As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday, 19 May 2019

Campaign to create turtle dove habitats in North Yorkshire



6 May 2019
Farmers in North Yorkshire are being encouraged to create habitats in a bid to save the turtle dove.
Population of the small bird has declined in the UK by 95% since the 1970s, according to the RSPB.
The North York Moors National Park Authority, which is running the project, said there were fewer than 100 nesting birds in Yorkshire.
Project Officer Richard Baines said: "We've now got to a point where we're rescuing the species."
The North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project, which involves several organisations including the RSPB, Forestry Commission and Scarborough Borough Council, is training land owners and encouraging them to plant specific seeds to increase areas of habitat for the birds.
Turtle doves feed on seeds including those of fumitory, knotgrass, chickweed, oilseed rape and cereal grains.
"We want farmers to sow a special seed mix by broadcasting it on a special plot they've created, which will grow specific flowers that will come up the following year and provide fantastic food for turtle doves," said Mr Baines.
The RSPB said a lack of seed food on farmland in the summer and habitat loss had resulted in a reduction of nesting attempts during the birds' breeding season.



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