European Turtle Dove increases dramatically following hunting ban

Following a hunting ban, European Turtle Dove has increased by 25% in Western Europe between 2021 and 2023, according to a new report.

News of the recovery, which equates to an additional 400,000 breeding pairs across the region, comes as France, Spain and Portugal confirm that the hunting ban will be extended for a fourth year in a row.

The report, prepared for the European Commission, has been produced by the international team of scientists advising governments on how to manage populations of turtle doves sustainably. The temporary hunting ban, in place across France, Spain and Portugal since 2021, resulted from evidence-based advice from the same team.

European Turtle Dove has performed a remarkable recovery in Western Europe since 2021, according to a new report (Joe Downing).

 

Turtle dove recovery

Hunting of the species has taken place for many years in France, Spain and Portugal, and prior to 2018, approximately 1 million turtle doves were being killed each autumn across these three countries alone. These numbers were recognised as being unsustainable for the regional population and led to the development of a better management system, which started with the recent temporary hunting ban.

The rapid initial success of this ban, as revealed in the report, has provided impetus for all three countries involved to introduce a fourth consecutive year of no turtle dove hunting in 2024.

 

International collaboration

As part of a long-term sustainable management process, this hunting moratorium was called for by an international conservation action plan for European Turtle Dove.

The RSPB led the production of this plan, launched in 2018, bringing together experts from across the species' range, working collaboratively across borders to identify the actions needed to secure the future of turtle doves, including as a breeding bird in the UK.

The lead author of the report to the European Commission, Dr Carles Carboneras, of the Spanish Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC) said: "The rapid start to the recovery of the Western European breeding population of turtle doves since 2021 shows us the value of a well-researched and well-implemented conservation action plan. 

"The collaborative international plan showed us what actions were required, on what scale and where. With our scientific advice, governments, land managers and hunters have implemented the plan's recommendations, and we are just starting to see the resulting success." 

Habitat restoration is important for European Turtle Dove in the UK (Steven Fryer ).

 

Better habitat

The same plan makes it clear that the other priority conservation action for turtle doves is to ensure that they have good breeding season habitats available. This applies particularly to countries such as the UK, where changes in agricultural practice in the 20th century have deprived the species of much of their seed food. But by working hand in hand with farmers now, these key habitats can be restored.

Rick Bayne, Senior Project Manager for Operation Turtle Dove, said: "The recent increase in turtle dove numbers across Western Europe as a whole is really exciting news, making our conservation efforts here in the UK for these birds all the more worthwhile.

Operation Turtle Dove, a partnership between the RSPB, Natural England, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust and Fair to Nature, is dedicated to helping the UK's breeding population of Turtle Doves to recover.