Latest news with #TurtleDove
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experts celebrate stunning success after banning hunting for one threatened species: 'Excellent news'
When it comes to conservation efforts, a cool epithet can only help. Operation Turtle Dove not only has a fantastic name, but it has also been a smashing success. A ban on hunting turtle doves in western Europe was introduced in 2021. In just four years, the region's population has recovered by 40%. Senior project manager for Operation Turtle Dove Rick Bayne told the Independent, "This excellent news from the wider western European breeding population is compelling evidence that our conservation strategy for turtle doves is working." The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) describes the turtle dove as a "dainty dove." Though their plumage is dark and resembles a tortoiseshell, their name actually comes from their distinctive, "turr turr" call. These gentle creatures have long been a cultural symbol of love and devotion in Western culture. They mate for life, and the male takes an active role in incubating eggs. As granivores, they play a useful role in the ecosystem as seed dispersers, which helps maintain biodiversity in the region. Turtle doves wisely avoid British winters by spending the time in Africa before migrating through western Europe in the summer months. But their numbers have plummeted dramatically, by around 98% (per the Woodland Trust) from 1970s levels. The chief causes were changes to agriculture that deprived them of food sources, and overhunting. Millions of birds en route to southeast England were trapped and shot by hunters in France, Spain, and Portugal before the hunting ban. Operation Turtle Dove works with farmers and landowners in Britain to help create habitats that enable turtle doves to thrive once again. This collaborative approach has been a cornerstone of the project's success. Nature is resilient, and conservation efforts worldwide demonstrate that endangered species can recover from the brink if they're given the chance. Of course, it's important not to get complacent, especially with the news that the European Union will lift the hunting ban on turtle doves. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Dr. Guy Anderson, the RSPB's Migratory Birds Programme manager, explained that Operation Turtle Dove's success "does not diminish the need to ensure that unsustainable levels of hunting do not return." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Endangered bird makes incredible comeback after population had plummeted by 98%: 'The future now looks a lot brighter'
U.K. turtle dove populations are on the rise thanks to a recent hunting ban, according to the Guardian. Over the past 30 years, the turtle dove population in the U.K. had plummeted by 98%. A Western European ban on shooting them was put in place in 2021, including countries along its migratory route, like France, Spain, and Portugal. The end result has been an increase in the population by 25% (or 400,000) across the entire region. This data comes by way of a new report from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Operation Turtle Dove has been coordinating with over 442 landowners across the U.K. to provide suitable habitat for the species. It remains vulnerable, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Populations within the U.K. have still dipped by 15% since 2023, despite the increase across European migration routes overall. Results like these go to show that well-regulated hunting bans can be a lifeline to species that are on the brink. Florida was forced to enact a ban on harvesting a species of bass recently for similar reasons. When it comes to birds, international cooperation is needed to cover a wide territory. We've seen similar projects bear fruit in North America, including a conservation program for parrots moving between the U.S. and Mexico. Volunteers working to protect turtle doves in the U.K. are feeling good about its long-term survival. "There is real optimism that effective conservation at scale across the turtle dove's migratory route, combined with our efforts in the U.K., will soon see a positive impact for turtle doves," said Mike Shurmer, the head of species for Royal Society for the Protection of Birds England, per the Guardian. "The future now looks a lot brighter for these special birds, and we hope to see the results of the dedicated efforts of farmers, landowners, and volunteers when we carry out the next national turtle dove survey." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
