Foraging Fields for Turtle Doves
Testing the effectiveness of bespoke field measures
2021 to 2023
Introduction
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Despite increasing uptake of agricultural management schemes to benefit farmland birds, Turtle Doves are still disappearing from our landscape.
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​The International Species Action Plan for the Turtle Dove (2018) identified key contributors to their population decline and outlined a series of actions that countries will need to undertake to protect the species.​​
​​Research in the UK indicates that food shortages caused by habitat loss could be a key contributer to the decline of the turtle dove in the UK. As exclusive seed-eaters, turtle dove diets were historically dominated by the seeds of agricultural weeds. The intensification of farming in Western Europe in recent decades has resulted in the loss of both suitable nesting and foraging habitat for turtle doves.
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​Given the similarities between British and Dutch climates and agricultural advancements, we expect food shortages to be a similar issue in the Netherlands. Research in Zeeland (2019/2020) followed the daily movements of 5 turtle doves and found them to be rather dependant on specific, marginal areas for their food. Earlier in the year they visited areas with spilt and stored seed, such as farmyards.
International Single Species Action Plan for the Turtle Dove
Action 1.2.1.1
“Put in place and further develop national agri-environment packages
that create or maintain seed-rich habitats within the species’ current or recent range. This may include bespoke seed packages that provide specific plant species that turtle-dove are known to feed on. “
The research also noted that turtle doves were not using any of the local field margins (set up predominantly via the Dutch agri-environment 'ANLb' scheme). Many prescribed ANLb field margins have a high and dense vegetation structure. Conversly, turtle dove foraging habitat is very open, with lots of bare ground and plenty of seed that is available throughout the breeding season.
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Maintaining sutable foraging fields/margins is one of the measures that could help support turtle doves in the Netherlands.
Project aims
The two primary aims of this project were:
1) to identify an agri-environmental measure providing suitable foraging habitat for European turtle doves and gain experience with its management,
2) to investigate their effectiveness in supporting European turtle doves.
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​Where
​​This research was carried out in two study areas on Walcheren, an area in Zeeland Province, the Netherlands.
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The first study area waslocated between Westkapelle and Zoutelande
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The second was just south of Oostkapelle.
These study areas were selected based on observations of territorial activity on Walcheren in 2020 and the distance turtle doves are likely to fly in search of a good source of seed.
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What?​
Small foraging fields were set up and closely monitored on the land of participating landowners. A bespoke seed mix and management regime were tested to investigate how fields could be best managed to maximize seed availability and maintain the open vegetation structure that turtle doves need.
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In addition to closely monitoring vegetation development on the test fields, a combination of camera traps, field observations, and 8 GPS transmitters provided insight into how the fields were used by turtle doves.
The success of the fields was determined by whether they were used by turtle doves. The extent of their success was judged based on the GPS transmitter data, which revealed the intensity with which the test fields were being used
Financed by Provincie Zeeland, Vogelbescherming Nederland and Het Zeeuwse Landschap.
Carried out in partnership with Vogelbescherming Nederland, SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland, Poldernatuur Zeeland, Provincie Zeeland, Het Zeeuwse Landschap and Vreugdentil Ecologie.
