RSPB calls on farmers to solve Turtle Dove riddle

Turtle doves populations have fallen across England and Wales by 88 per cent since 1970.

The species no longer breeds in Wales and the RSPB says there are fears it could disappear as a breeding bird in England, if the Government cuts funding for environmental schemes in the farmed countryside.

The RSPB, in partnership with Natural England, has begun a three year research project, with trial plots of seed rich crops being sown on farms across East Anglia from this Autumn. Birds will be monitored and radio tagged as part of the project.

The project is looking for 16 farms in East Anglia, which already have at least two pairs of nesting turtle doves.  Half of these will host two hectare trial plots and half will be control sites with no seed plots. Project staff will regularly monitor nests and feeding habits, as well as radio tagging birds, and farmers with trial plots will be compensated for the space taken out of production.

For more information email Dr Jenny Dunn at jenny.dunn@rspb.org.uk

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