Since 1960s, Britain’s European turtle doves have suffered an almost 99% population decline. In 2026, 30 birds were released to restore the species

Sometimes, helping a species recover begins with something as simple as paying attention. For Britain’s European turtle doves, one of the country’s most threatened farmland birds, conservationists are combining habitat restoration with a carefully monitored reintroduction effort. The species has suffered a dramatic collapse in the UK, with its population estimated to have fallen by 98% compared with the late-1960s and early-1970s baseline. Now, a new 2026 project in Hampshire is offering the birds another chance, with local communities helping conservationists track their return.

30 turtle doves released in Hampshire

In spring 2026, 30 European turtle doves were released in the Selborne area of Hampshire as part of efforts led by the South Downs National Park Authority to establish a stronger population in the region. The release is particularly significant because turtle doves are now extremely scarce in Britain.

A British Trust for Ornithology survey estimated that there were just 2,092 breeding territories in the UK in 2021, with the species increasingly restricted to eastern and southeastern England. The same research found a 98% decline in abundance since the 1968–1972 breeding atlas. The RSPB similarly describes the species as having suffered a decline of almost 99% since the 1960s.

One released bird has already laid eggs

The Hampshire project has already produced an encouraging early development. According to the South Downs National Park Authority, one of the released female turtle doves returned to its enclosure and laid eggs. South Downs National Park ranger Paul Bushell said the released turtle doves “seem really happy” and that their whereabouts were being monitored with help from the wider community, whose sightings were being plotted on a map, reported ITV News Meridian.

Public sightings are being collected and plotted on a map, giving conservationists additional information about where the birds are moving and how they are using the landscape. ITV News also reported that a further 100 turtle doves are being prepared for release in 2027. The birds are expected to migrate roughly 3,000 miles to sub-Saharan Africa before potentially returning to Hampshire in spring. Conservationists hope they will come back and establish themselves, with future generations helping rebuild the population.

Why did Britain’s turtle dove population collapse?

The decline of the European turtle dove is linked to several pressures, including the loss of suitable breeding and feeding habitat. Turtle doves feed on small seeds produced by low-growing plants. Changes in farming practices have reduced the availability of these food sources in many areas. The birds also need dense scrub for nesting and accessible water nearby.

Hunting along the birds’ migration route in southwestern Europe was another major concern. The RSPB says a sustainable hunting management system was introduced in France, Spain and Portugal in 2021, following years of conservation work. The western European breeding population subsequently increased by more than 30% over the following three years, according to the organisation.

Farmers and communities are part of the comeback

The Hampshire reintroduction is not simply about releasing birds. Conservationists have also been working to make the landscape more suitable for them. Seven ponds have been restored to provide shallow freshwater for drinking and bathing, while wild plants such as fumitory, birdsfoot trefoil, vetch and red and white clover have been planted to provide food.

The wider effort also involves farmers, landowners, conservation organisations, volunteers and local communities. That community involvement is particularly important because ordinary sightings can provide useful information about where the birds are travelling and settling.

Conservation work is already changing habitats

The Hampshire project forms part of a much wider effort to reverse the decline of turtle doves in Britain. Since 2012, the RSPB-led Operation Turtle Dove has worked with farmers, landowners and communities across southern and eastern England to improve feeding and nesting habitats. In 2024 alone, the project worked with 442 landowners to provide 161 hectares of suitable feeding habitat, equivalent to about 223 football pitches.

The aim is to give turtle doves better access to food, nesting areas and water when they return to Britain after their migration.

A bird people can help bring back by looking

The turtle dove is a small, migratory relative of more familiar collared doves and woodpigeons. It is recognisable by its distinctive chestnut-patterned wings and black-and-white neck markings, as well as its characteristic soft purring call. For the Hampshire project, simply reporting a sighting can become part of the conservation effort. The Turtle Dove Trust also encourages members of the public to report sightings because the information can help identify suitable locations for future releases.

The 30 birds released in 2026 are therefore only one part of a much bigger experiment in recovery. With habitat restoration, migration-route protection and thousands of people paying closer attention to where the birds return, conservationists are hoping that the gentle purr of the turtle dove will once again become a familiar sound across parts of Britain.