Guy Anderson, RSPB Thanks to a certain Christmas song, turtle doves are forever associated with this time of year. Just one example of how frequently they crop up in our music, art, and literature. A bird that punches well above its weight in the heritage of human cultures all across its European and Asian breeding […]
Continue readingCelebrate with a Dove Story
We celebrate the RSPB’s turtle dove Conservation Advisors and how their on-the-ground conservation work is supporting the survival of these romantic figures. Turtle doves have long been a symbol of love. They are often seen in pairs and their beauty and soothing song have inspired artists throughout history in their depictions of romance. They have […]
Continue readingUpper Wensum Cluster Farm Group- feeding trials update
By Eliza Emmett – Upper Wensum Cluster Farm Group’s advisor The influential work of the Upper Wensum Cluster Farm Group continues to grow and develop. The landscape-scale conservation project now consists of 22 farmers and covers more than 9,000 hectares of the cherished Upper Wensum river valley in Norfolk. In our spring blog, I shared […]
Continue readingUpper Wensum Cluster Farm Group- How are we working towards Turtle Dove conservation?
The Upper Wensum Cluster Farm Group is a landscape scale conservation project set in the beautiful Upper Wensum river valley. A rare and precious chalk bed river, the group of 21 farmers (covering over 9,000ha) has a defined set of objectives to help preserve and enhance this important landscape. Along with working towards water and […]
Continue readingThe North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project
From small dreams of local action for birds, bigger projects can grow! In 2015 a very keen group of local naturalists, birders and conservationists decided to form the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project. Our vision was to collect accurate data as quickly as possible on our local population within the Great Yorkshire Forest with a […]
Continue readingTurtle Dove Action Plan – it’s just the start
In the last in our series of blogs about the Action Plan for turtle doves, Ian Fisher and Joscelyne Ashpole from the RSPB reflect on the work that has gone into the plan, celebrate the ‘Eyes on the Flyways’ conference and look to the future. For the last two years we have been pulling together […]
Continue readingWorking on the land for turtle dove conservation
The issues facing turtle doves are complex and long in the making, fully understanding these issues has itself proved difficult. The new turtle dove Species Action Plan brings together all of the latest research and on the ground knowledge alongside the necessary steps to safeguard the very existence of this species. For Operation Turtle Dove […]
Continue readingManaging land and forging relationships for turtle dove conservation
Emma Stobart of the RSPB works with farmers and land managers to provide advice on how to manage and improve habitats for turtle doves in the UK. Here she talks about what the Action Plan means for this important area of work. I’m Emma, and I work for the RSPB on behalf of the Operation […]
Continue readingWorking together for turtle doves in the Gambia
The Turtle Dove Action Plan has brought together stakeholders from across the species’ European and African range and it is inspiring to hear how people right along the flyway are working to help the turtle dove. Here, Lamin Jobaate from the European Turtle Dove Working Group for the Gambia tells us about the work that […]
Continue readingGiving Turtle Doves an extra helping (hand) – supplementary feeding
One of the top priorities within the European Action Plan for Turtle Dove is a call for emergency measures to provide more seed food for these birds on their breeding grounds. Guy Anderson of the RSPB, describes a quick and easy way this can be done. We have known for some time that shortage of […]
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