The summer ecology and habitat use of the turtle dove: a pilot study (ENRR219)

In Britain, the turtle dove Streptopelia turtur has recently experienced a dramatic population decrease (-72%) and range contraction (-25%), followhg a lengthy period of increase and expansion. Similar observations have been made elsewhere in Europe. Despite conservation concern over its current status, the ecology of the turtle dove is relatively little known, The aim of the present six-month pilot study, which was undertaken at two sites in East Anglia in 1996, was to assess the feasibility of a future, detailed investigation into the summer autecology and conservation needs of the turtle dove in England.