log#5_ Why European turtle dove?

During the process of knowing more facts about the secrets of migrating birds, I read an article about the migration secrets of turtle dove, and started to notice this only migrating dove in Europe, and the fact is "they have almost been hunted to extinction". [1]

Turtle doves are ecologically unique, being Europe's only long distance migratory dove. They spend just a third of the year on their breeding grounds in Europe, and spend the winter on their non-breeding grounds in sub-Saharan West Africa.

John Mallord, of the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, said, "The purring of a turtle dove used to be the sound of summer but sadly due to a huge decline in numbers is now rare or non-existent." According a research article from Wageningen University & Research in 2021, bird trapping is incredibly complex. “Bird conservation is challenging in a country like Egypt, where there are cultural aspects to take into account as well. What's legal and what's illegal? Bird trappers don't think about endangered species. In the past, trappers were only active in autumn, not in spring, which allowed migratory birds to reach their nesting spots. Now they trap all year round.” Having declined by 98% since the 1970s, the turtle dove has the unenviable claim of being the UK’s fastest-declining bird species. [2]

In fact, it is not only the European turtle dove that is being trapped, but also other species such as quails and nightingales that face similar situations. The turtle dove is facing even more threats, including trapping, hunting, as well as the reduction of habitats and food resources.

Last year, I came across the carcass of a wooden pigeon at the entrance of a supermarket. I buried it under a tree in a nearby park and played a song "a dove's clock" I had created before.

I remembered the lyric to a song by Bob Dylan, "How many seas must a white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand? " It occurred to me that perhaps I could mourn this lesser-known and vanishing species in my own way.

[1] Naguib, P. M. (2022, May 23). How Dutch migratory birds are caught by trapping nets. WUR. https://www.wur.nl/en/newsarticle/how-dutch-migratory-birds-are-caught-by-trapping-nets.htm

[2] National turtle dove survey results warn of low numbers, but solutions give hope | The RSPB. (n.d.). The RSPB. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/rspb-news-stories/national-turtle-dove-survey/