Bird spotting is one of life’s greatest pleasures and there are so many different species to spot that you’ll never tire of searching for them.
However, with various bird populations under threat in the UK (and elsewhere around the world) because of pressures like climate change, urbanisation and habitat destruction, it’s important that we do all we can to encourage more birds into our gardens at home, giving them much-needed support so they can continue to thrive.
Interestingly, one bird species that seems to be on the path to recovery in terms of numbers across Europe is the turtle dove, with RSPB research showing that numbers rose by 40 per cent between 2021 and 2024.
This is down to three consecutive years of a temporary hunting ban across Spain, Portugal and France, which is having an impact on UK populations because the birds share a common migration route to and from wintering spots in West Africa.
In the UK, farmers and landowners are also helping to support breeding through food and habitats – essential given the fact that numbers have plummeted by 99 per cent since the 1960s, driven by quality breeding habitat destruction and a lack of good feeding opportunities.
So, with all this in mind, if you want to help give these birds a boost, now’s the time to ask:
How can you help support turtle doves?
Turtle doves only come to UK shores in spring and summer, using farmland habitats for their summer holidays. They build their nests out of twigs in dense scrub and hedgerows, and their diet is made up almost entirely of seeds, so they need to have excellent ongoing access to flowering plants, as well as lots of water because their diet is so dry.
So, in order to help turtle dove numbers recover, it’s important to provide them with the breeding habitats they so desperately need and to give them easy access to lots of food so they can produce more chicks.
You can use a seed mix that contains the likes of canary seed, white millet and oil seed rape, as well as sunflower hearts and other small seeds if you want to provide supplementary food sources. Scatter the seed around, as these birds are typically ground feeders, although it couldn’t hurt to put some on your bird tables, as well.
Make sure that all feeders are cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent diseases and provide a small amount of food on a regular basis, rather than putting lots out as any build-up can also lead to the spreading of disease, as well as attracting unwanted visitors like rats.
As for habitats, consider bringing in plants and shrubs like hawthorns, brambles, ivy and honeysuckle, allowing your planting to mature naturally (although note that this can take some time, so patience is a must).
If you’d like any further help or advice, get in touch with the Johnston & Jeff team today.
