*** Pre-order - Original will be ready to ship in the week of 26th September ***
 
Two Turtle Doves but for how much longer?
 
Since 1967 we have lost 98% of the UK’s turtle doves. In fact, they are the UK’s fastest declining species… Legal and illegal hunting on their migration routes is responsible for the loss of over 2 million turtle doves each year and the struggle isn't over once they reach the UK either.
 
Habitat loss and a rapid change in farming practices have also contributed significantly to their alarming decline. Research carried out in England shows that adult Turtle doves are producing half as many chicks as they were in the 1970s as a result of habitat loss and the associated food shortages.
 
Luckily, there are people who are working to try and help these beautiful birds. These two groups are helping to keep turtle doves safe during migration and make sure they have a home in the UK.
 
CABS: CABS (Committee Against Bird Slaughter) monitors illegal hunting on the ground, disrupting the traps, nets, and lures set by poachers. They also are at the forefront of lobbying governments and the EU to put an end to the legal hunting of turtle doves and other bird species. Last autumn CABS teams collected 4122 traps, caught 217 poachers and saved 2347 birds from traps.
To read more about their work visit www.komitee.de/en/
 
In 2016 Richard Baines set up the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project as a volunteer group. The aim of the group is to survey the population, improve national awareness of this population, and move as quickly as possible to conservation action to improve the fortunes of these beautiful birds. They work with local landowners and farmers to help them create wildflower field margins and dew ponds that will help turtle doves thrive.
 
Their current project is raising funds for the creation of Dew pools in Dalby Forest to help Turtle Doves.
 
I am proud to say that £40 from the sale of this piece will be donated to each of the two above charities to help their vital work in conserving turtle doves. (£80 total donation)
 
This drawing is perfect for birdwatchers, bird ringers, nature loves, fans of turtle doves and pigeons.
 
If you like this design, the following are also available
Limited Edition Giclee Prints
 
** Pre-order item for shipping from 26th September ***
If you are ordering multiple items in one order including a pre-order item, they will all ship together on the pre-order date. If you wish for the other items to arrive before the pre-order date please purchase them separately.