Graphic designer and jeweller, Ann Lamb, tells the story of her fundraising project to raise money for Operation Turtle Dove with the help of a collection of passionate local artists and writer. An inspiring bird This time last year I was wholeheartedly engrossed in a fundraising project for Operation Turtle Dove. Since starting to make […]
Continue readingTurtle Dove Talk
Maldon District Council – leading the way in ‘Planning’ for Turtle Doves
Mark Nowers, RSPB Conservation Officer in Eastern England A top place for turtle doves The plight of the turtle dove and the work of dedicated farmers, landowners and conservationists in trying to save it is well known. But how can the world of planning policy and local councils help to save this bird? With limited resources, […]
Continue readingTurtle Doves – A species inspiring art and creativity
Guest blog by Ali Bennett The turtle dove was once a central part of the British countryside yet it is scarcely found nowadays. I’ve never heard a turtle dove. In fact, I’ve only ever seen one in flight and that was a few years back. It saddens me that this beautiful species could vanish completely […]
Continue readingFarmers and funders give turtle doves a lifeline in 2018
Laurinda Luffman, RSPB Trusts and Foundations Manager New figures show plight of the turtle dove The latest figures from the government show that farmland bird populations are continuing to decline (by a further 7% between 2011-2016). Of all the farmland species, the turtle dove has seen the most dramatic fall. Numbers of this precious summer […]
Continue readingVolunteers saving turtle doves
Guest blog by Caroline Spinks, Turtle Dove Survey Volunteer Co-ordinator Part of Operation Turtle Dove’s remit is to carry out research in turtle dove breeding grounds/habitats, much of this research relies upon volunteer surveyors heading out in the early hours to look for turtle doves through the breeding season. In Cambridgeshire, Essex, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk […]
Continue readingFarmers take emergency action for turtle doves
This summer Operation Turtle Dove has supported farmers in providing supplementary food for turtle doves throughout the bird’s remaining strongholds during the breeding season. This new tactic follows recent results from a two year trial which showed that when best practice is followed, putting out supplementary feed for turtle doves does not exacerbate issues related […]
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 […]
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