Turtle Dove Trust, Vine House Farm, Main Road, Deeping St. Nicholas, Spalding (2026)

The main aim of the Trust is to support an active and highly successful captive breeding project, producing Turtle Doves for release into the wild to augment and rejuvenate the drastically depleted UK population.

21/06/2026

Turtle Dove Trust Attaches Trackers to Birds Ahead of Release

A Conservation Effort Aimed to Monitor and Protect Vulnerable Turtle Dove Populations

By fitting a selection of birds with lightweight tracking devices, crucial information can be gathered about their behaviour once released. This data helps identify critical habitats, stopover sites, and potential threats faced during migration, informing more effective conservation strategies moving forward.

The trackers used by the Turtle Dove Trust are small, non-invasive devices attached to the birds in a manner that does not impede their natural movements. These trackers use satellite or GPS technology to transmit location data back to the Trust’s researchers, enabling the monitoring and the progress of the released birds in near real-time.

The ultimate aim of attaching trackers is not only to monitor the immediate welfare of the released Turtle Doves but also to contribute to the broader understanding of the species’ needs.

Insights gained from tracking can identify critical feeding and breeding sites, guiding habitat restoration projects and informing policy decisions. Additionally, the data can be used to raise public awareness and support for turtle dove conservation, encouraging community involvement and international cooperation.

This initiative represents a promising step forward in the fight to save one of Britain’s most cherished yet threatened bird species. By harnessing modern technology and fostering collaboration among conservationists, scientists, and the public, there is renewed hope for the recovery of the Turtle Dove population.

Should you wish to financially help us in this initiative, please donate by visiting our website:
https://turtledovetrust.org.uk/donations

05/06/2026

Recent Sightings Reported to the Turtle Dove Trust

The Turtle Dove Trust continues to monitor and record the presence of Turtle Doves through sightings reported by enthusiasts, volunteers, and the public. These reports are invaluable for understanding the current distribution and status of this threatened species.

The Trust has received an increased number of reports via its online portal reflecting the growing public interest in Turtle Dove conservation. The Turtle Dove Trust sincerely thanks everyone who has taken the time and trouble to report seeing Turtle Doves.

During the last month, May, 34 sightings have been reported to the Trust via its website. Of these, many have been photographed; 3 Turtle Doves have been reported with leg rings which have been fitted by the Trust in previous years (seen in DEVON, SURREY and LINCOLNSHIRE).

May sightings have been widespread throughout England and Wales: Turtle Doves have been reported in BEDFORDSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, CORNWALL, DEVON, EAST SUSSEX, ESSEX, HAMPSHIRE, HERTFORDSHIRE, KENT, LEICESTERSHIRE, LINCOLNSHIRE, NORFOLK, OXFORDSHIRE, SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, SURREY, PEMBROKESHIRE and WILTSHIRE.

If you have recently seen a turtle dove, please report your observation with any photographs to the Turtle Dove Trust at at https://turtledovetrust.org.uk/sightings Please include the date, location, number of birds, any notable behaviour and the presence and colour of any leg rings.

These records directly contribute to ongoing conservation efforts and help map population trends. They also highlight both the continued presence of Turtle Doves and the importance of habitat preservation. The Turtle Dove Trust encourages everyone to remain vigilant and share their observations to support the survival of this iconic species.

05/05/2026

Turtle Doves Return

The Trust’s aviculturist had recently noticed that three male Turtle Doves were flying and roosting close to their north Suffolk premises. Turtle Doves often show site loyalty by returning from migration to previously known sites so, I wanted to photograph these birds and confirm that they were previously captive bred by the Trust.

It was a sunny day with a cool breeze. Taking position in a sheltered area, I too heard and eventually saw Turtle Doves flying overhead and favouring nearby trees to roost. Unfortunately, the harsh high-contrast light, together with the distance to the trees made photography difficult; my images were the best I could achieve with my camera on the day.

However, the photographs do show that the Turtle Doves were indeed returning captive-bred birds. You will notice the rings on the legs; they are black, showing that the birds were ringed by the Trust in 2025.

From mid-April, Turtle Doves should arrive in southern England in their thousands, migrating from sub-Saharan Africa. The Trust is always delighted to hear about sightings wherever they are. Please do visit https://turtledovetrust.org.uk/sightings/ with your records and photographs. All sightings help to confirm the areas that Turtle Doves frequent and favour.

Lawrence Smith – Amateur Photographer & Webmaster

06/04/2026

An Aviculturist’s Work is Never Over

The breeding season starts early, with the first Turtle Dove eggs appearing in early February. They continue to arrive throughout the Spring and Summer and normally peak towards the end of June through to July.

The aviculturist’s work includes:

1. Administering flint grit and oyster shell.

These are essential supplements, made freely available and offered in separate containers which must be kept dry, clean, and uncontaminated. It is also essential to keep fresh bathing water.

Flint Grit: small stones which stay in the gizzard to grind up food, aiding digestion.

Oyster Shell: provides calcium for eggshells and bone health.

2. Anthelmintic Treatment.

This is a preparation, routinely used as a precaution and to treat and control internal and external parasitic infections. Properly administered, the medicine is highly effective.

3. Candling.

A bright light is shone through eggs to check the development of the embryo: a fertile egg will show a dark spot with spider-like veins while an infertile egg will be clear.

4. Ringing Captive Bred Squabs.

Aluminium closed rings, supplied by the International Ornithological Association (IOA), are used to ring squabs when they are between 6 and 9 days old.

1. the 3 forward toes are held together with the rear toe facing in the opposite direction.
2. the ring is slipped over the front toes, across the ankle and over the back toe.
3. the back toe is released to secure the ring.
This must be done with extreme care, and as swiftly and gently as possible to avoid stressing the squabs.

A few of the tasks, all in a day’s work and all very necessary for the well-being of our captively bred Turtle Doves.

23/03/2026

Early Spring Return
This week a c**k Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) was heard cooing in a tree close to one of the Trust’s release enclosures. This is our first returnee in 2026 and is hopefully the first of many more to return from winter migration.

A migratory species, they return to their breeding sites in April to May. The distinctive gentle and rhythmic “turr-turr” song signals the presence of males in their preferred habitat: areas with overgrown hedges, woodland edges and open farmland. They are best seen and heard in East Anglia and south-east England during spring and summer.

If you are lucky enough to see or hear one, please let us know. Sightings can be reported on our website: turtledovetrust.org.uk/sightings

Address

Vine House Farm, Main Road, Deeping St. Nicholas
Spalding
PE113DG

Telephone

+441775630208

Website

https://turtledovetrust.org.uk/

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