Charting the sightings and decline of this rare visitor
Presently I am working on the 2023 Newbury District Ornithological Club Annual Report and a few weeks ago was editing records for Pigeons and Doves. After recent changes to the Systematic List, led by current DNA knowledge, the Columbidae genera (Pigeons and Doves) has been moved to near the beginning of the British List after Geese, Swans, Ducks, Gamebirds, Nightjars and Swifts; these latter two species have also been moved with them. Before this change the genera was mid-way down the list, with the near passerine group of species. Pigeons and Doves recording for most is of low priority, often being limited to noting the species as being present and sometimes records of large gatherings or exceptional events.
The last of the Columbidae species on the list is Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) and in 2023 there is just one record of a bird flying north in early May near the Thatcham Crematorium. Also, negative records from a site where a bird has been recorded each year since 2019 in suitable breeding habitat – song/displaying etc; 2019 is the last time records from more than one site were received. Most birders will know that the Turtle Dove is in severe decline not only in the UK but across western Europe throughout its range that includes western Russia up to but not including Scandinavia. It is the only fully migratory species of our Pigeons and Doves, wintering in Africa, arriving here late April into May to breed and leaving August into September for its wintering areas. It is well known the many, many thousands are shot in Europe in Spring and Autumn when they are on passage. I understand however that particularly in France and Spain that shooting bans have and are being enforced more vigorously recently.
In the British Isles it is on the edge of its range and confined to the south of England into the midlands. Since the turn of the century and probably before, there has been very rapid decline in population such that in 2024 it occurs in just a few areas of the southeast corner of England, here a few breeding birds are holding on. One of the major factors in its demise are changes in farming practice since the late 1970s, and this has affected farmland bird populations generally. The loss of rough areas and aggressive herbicide and insecticide use, also multiple instead of single annual grass cuts have decimated the meadow type habitats that provide essential food plants such as Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), a member of the daisy family and the like (essential food plants for Turtle Doves). Areas where the species still occurs are now reverting to government aided friendlier farming methods to hopefully bring about recovery.
So, what is the profile of the decline in the club area? Referring to the Newbury District Ornithological Club Annual Reports:
2024: no records located on Birdtrack, Berks-Birds, Hants-Birds, Oxon-Birds for the club area, as at the end of September.
2021 to 2023: 1 observation from 1 site received for each year.
2020: 2 observations received from 2 sites.
For the decade 2010 to 2019: around 24 observations received, (range 4 to 64) from around 9 sites (range 1 to 12).
For the decade 2000 to 2009: around 47 observations (range 30 to 60) from around 14 sites (range 9 to 18)
For the decade 1990 to 1999: around 25 observations (range 17 to 39) from 15 sites (range 11 to 20)
Decades previous to this don’t always have a full list of records, the species being considered a regular encounter, and some years either a summary is given (category B) or only interesting records shown (Category C). Most records after 2000 are of singing birds and rarely pairs, the last sustained presence was in 2017 at 1 site, this remained so back to 2011 when 5 sites sustained, and the last juveniles seen was in 2015. Some years in the first decade of this century family groups are reported. The last double figure flock is of 13, 20th Aug 2003 at Brimpton GPs and 11 were on rape, Combe Hill, 12th Aug 1990. On the 1st Aug 1981 20+ were at Brimpton GPs, and on the 24th Aug 1979 a flock of 26 were seen. Before this, double figure flocks are often reported though for many years just the first arrivals and sometime the last departing birds are recorded, presumably because Turtle Doves were so frequently seen. Looking back through all the reports and bulletins of the club to 1959, mid-double figure flocks are regular, usually in August as birds gathered to migrate and there are a couple of three figure flocks recorded - 30th Aug 1975, 95 to 100 on wires, Pang Valley and 135, Bucklebury Ford, 21st Aug 1966. I can’t recall ever seeing more than one or two birds myself but maybe that’s because they were so familiar I took little notice of them.
So, when did the Turtle Dove start to decline here? Occasionally back to 1974 there are comments in annual reports that they seem much scarcer, however from reading through the reports it seems to me that the late 1990s into the 2000s is when the decline rapidly increased.
In recent bird magazines it is reported that on the near continent farming is reverting to (European Union aided) more nature friendly farming methods and particularly since shooting Turtle Dove migrants has been curtailed there are signs of population recovery. It is thought that as the species is on the edge of its range in Great Britain, French and Spanish populations will need to recovery significantly before they begin to overflow back into our country. Their purring song for me is one of the sounds of summer, so hopefully this will be sooner rather than later.
Jan Legg