As the village excitedly awaits this year’s return of our visiting Turtle Doves, HI HUB hears from Histon & Impington Green Spaces volunteer and RSPB expert Nigel Butcher with some very happy news…
Early each year the speculation as to when (if!) the Croft Close Nature Reserve (CCNR) Turtle Doves will return from their African wintering grounds begins. Over the last few years, the birds there have been some of the first observed and heard in the country. This year the day we were waiting for was Thursday 23 April when two birds arrived.
As context, a UK Turtle Dove survey undertaken in 2021 estimated the breeding population as only 2,092 territories. This suggests a 98% decline since the 1968-1972 UK Breeding Bird Atlas. With this staggering reduction in numbers, another national survey will be taking place in 2027.
It is great to say that our villages are bucking this trend, and numbers seem to be stable. Three adults were seen in spring last year and in August a juvenile was seen in an adjoining garden, confirming successful breeding.
Nest building in progress – do not disturb
We should all be immensely proud of having such an emblematic species right at the heart of Histon. It is right that we should also show caution as Turtle Doves will desert their nests if there is disturbance, particularly when nest building and during early incubation.
With this in mind, please respect the nature reserve, enjoy all it has to offer but do keep noise to a minimum and your dogs on leads particularly through Spring. If this happens then all being well, we should once again be celebrating another successful summer with more Turtle Doves fledging and heading off to spend their Winter in places like Senegal or Mali. Then the story starts all over again!!
Find out more about the Croft Close Nature Reserve and all Histon & Impington Green Spaces (HIGS) activities at their website.
READ ALSO: Flying high birds of prey to spot over Histon & Impington and New artwork welcomes visitors to nature reserve
We heard a turtle dove this morning at the back of the pig farm, on the long walk at Buxhall Farm.
An unmistakeable sound.