Planning for Turtle Doves

Planning for Turtle Doves

Andrew Holland, RSPB Brecks Farm Conservation Adviser

Identifying a Turtle Dove Similar species

Wood pigeon Collared dove

Turtle dove Illustrations: Mike Langham

Stock dove

Background • An iconic farmland bird – ‘the sound of summer’ • Ecologically unique in Europe • Suffolk BAP

• Red listed on BOCC • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

The Turtle Dove • The population in the UK halves every 6 years

• 14,000 pairs estimated in 2009 • UK’s fastest declining bird species • Extinction of the turtle dove is a reality within the next few decades

Image: Liz Cutting

Declined by

96% since 1970

UK breeding distribution • Suffolk – 16.8% • Norfolk – 10.6% • Essex – 12.8%

* figures are derived from data from BTO/BirdWatchIreland/SOC Bird Atlas 2007–11

What you can do ‘biodiversity is an essential element of sustainable development’. • The targets set by Operation Turtle Dove is to achieve suitable habitat for turtle doves in 1% of every km2 of core distribution

You can play a crucial role in this achievement by incorporating suitable turtle dove habitat into planning conditions and habitat mitigation requirements

Nesting Habitat – Hedgerows and Scrub • Maintenance of existing habitat • Planting new habitat • On-going management

A good Turtle Dove hedge

Images: Samantha Lee

Other benefiting species • Tree Sparrows (BAP), Bullfinch (BAP), Yellowhammer, Grey Partridge • Dormouse and other small mammals • Bats • Hedgehogs • Winter food for thrushes • Cover for small birds from predators • Pollinators

Feeding grounds A driving factor in the decline of Turtle Doves has been a reduction in their natural food sources What you can do Ensure a seed resource is available by planting a bespoke seed mix targeted for turtle doves

Turtle dove seed mix Fumitory -5% Early red clover- 10% Black medick-20% Early white clover-20% Birds foot trefoil-20% Early English common vetch-20% Management • Mid year - half cut between June and July • Autumn - full cut • Autumn scarification

Image: Tony Morris

Benefits • Prevent run off and erosion next to water courses • Nectar and pollen for insects including bumblebees and butterflies

• Aesthetically attractive with lots of flowering plants • Increased insect abundance benefits insect feeding birds, including their chicks • Seed resource for small birds and mammals

Cultivated margins or plots • Low maintenance • Low cost option

• Arable flowers • Beetles • Birds

Image by Chris Knights (rspb-images.com)

Benefits • Breckland Speedwell • Small Alison – (schedule 8 protected) • Yellow Wagtail, Tree Sparrow • Beetles - Brush-thighed seed-eater beetle

Image by Andrew Holland (RSPB)

A water source: Ponds •Drinking •Bathing

•Wildlife friendly •Location •Other benefits to wildlife

Image: Samantha Lee

Solar farms:

Quarries: CEMEX Turtle Dove Conservation Project

Hatfield quarry

Image: Sam Tarrant (RSPB)

Potential • Golf course development – e.g. Royal Hospital School • Industrial areas/housing/ community gardens – provision of green space and wildlife areas • Green roofs?

Images: http://www.greenroofguide.co.uk http://turf.co.uk/wildflower-turf/what-is-wildflower-turf/wildflower-mats-for-green-roofs/

References Hayhow DB, Conway G, Eaton, MA, Grice PV,Hall C, Holt CA, Kuepfer A, Noble DG, Oppel S, Risely, K, Stringer C, Stroud DA, Wilkinson N and Wotton S, 2014. The state of the UK’s birds 2014. RSPB, BTO, WWT, JNCC, NE, NIEA, NRW and SNH, Sandy, Bedfordshire.

Birds of Conservation Concern 3, published in 2009 BTO/BirdWatchIreland/SOC Bird Atlas 2007–11 English Nature, 1993, 1998a; RSPB, 1996; DETR, 1998a

The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. Together with our partners, we protect threatened birds and wildlife so our towns and countryside will teem with life once more.