How many turtle doves will be sung this Christmas?

How many turtle doves will be sung this Christmas?

In 1970 there may have been two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a pear tree in the popular Christmas song but after Defra (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs) released the statistics on the wild bird population for 2008, the famous song should perhaps be sung as 0.6 turtle doves.

“Bird populations are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife because birds occupy a wide range of habitats,” and “they tend to be near or at the top of the food chain” the report states.

The latest report reveals a great decline in breeding farmland and woodland species of the UK over the last 38 years. The statistical information does not include rare or introduced birds.

Gold Finch and Stock Dove have doubled in numbers since 1970 however the Turtle Dove along with other specialists living in farmland habitats like Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge, Starling and Corn Bunting have dropped by more than 70%.

Of the 19 species of farmland birds surveyed, breeding birds were down 47% with the most decrease happening in the mid 1980s and early 1990s.

The 38 species of woodland dwellers have faired a little better but compared to 1970 the have dropped by 14%.

Fortunately, wild bird populations are on the increase from 2007 to 2008; woodland species shows a 7% rise, 6% for water and wetland birds with farmland birds increasing by 1% and sea birds decreasing by 1%.

Overall, of the 114 species across all habitats there has been a 3% rise in numbers relative to 1970.

The greatest success has been for the 19 species of sea birds which has risen by 27%. Enjoying a “substantial increase” are Peregrine, Collared Dove, avocet, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Skua, Woodlark, Dartford and Cetti’s Warblers.

The report continues “Declines in farmland birds have been associated with changes in agricultural practices, including the loss of mixed farming, the switch to autumn sowing of cerealss, increasing use of agro-chemicals, intensification of grassland management, and loss of field margins and hedges.” indicating that new farm land practices should be adopted to improve the wildlife and bird populations under green schemes like the Environmental Stewardship.

How many turtle doves will be sung this Christmas?

The full report can be found here

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