Symbols of affection and fidelity brought down by extrajudicial killing
Symbols of affection and fidelity brought down by extrajudicial killing
© BirdLife Europe
By Margaret Sessa-Hawkins
The European Turle-dove is one amongst seven flagship birds in our Flight for Survival campaign to boost awareness of the scope and scale of the extrajudicial killing of migratory birds.
For thousands of years, European Turtle-doves have galvanized humanity, serving as symbols of affection, fidelity and new life. In classical mythology, the bird was sacred to Demeter, immortal of the harvest and fertility; in fashionable days, in Cockney vernacular, the words ‘turtle dove’ ar wont to mean ‘love’.
One of the most reasons the eu Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur is therefore acknowledge is also as a result of it's therefore widespread. The dove’s breeding grounds stretch across a lot of of Europe, from European country, to Moscow, and even into Northern China. within the winter although, it heads all the way down to hotter climes on the Sahel belt, in Africa. This journey is AN arduous one, however despite its diminutive size, the dove is a superb flyer. move principally at nighttime, the bird will reach speeds of sixty kilometer/h and fly distances of up to 700 km no end.
Unfortunately, humanity has not been treating the eu Turtle-dove amorously or fidelity over the past few decades. Once torrential throughout Europe and therefore the geographical region, numbers have plummeted recently. In Europe alone, the dove’s population has fallen by sixty two since 1980. In Russia, the species has attenuate by quite ninetieth since 1980. These decreases have semiconductor diode to the dove being classified as liable to extinction.
One of the explanations European Turtle-dove numbers ar dropping is thanks to the intensification of agriculture. whereas the doves use agricultural land to feed, and nest in hedges and forestland, the intensification of agriculture has semiconductor diode to a decrease in hedges and country, and therefore the use of chemicals is additionally moving the species.
Another reason numbers ar dropping is expounded to the unimaginable yearly journey the dove makes, as they're usually lawlessly killed throughout migration. additionally, the analysis for the event of the Species Action arrange revealed in 2018 disclosed that on the western itinerary of the species the take by legal looking is presently unsustainable. In European country, for instance, wherever looking European Turtle-doves is legal throughout season, the bird’s numbers have born by seventy fifth since 2004.
Across the Mediterranean in countries wherever looking the bird is legal throughout a restricted amount, there ar thought to be roughly 600,000 birds killed lawlessly annually outside the legal amount. In Malta this year, for instance, the govt thought-about lifting a moratorium on looking the eu Turtle-dove. whereas this was voted down, the season for quail was extended through early Apr – which means it'll overlap with peak Turtle-dove migration.
In a statement on Facebook, BirdLife Malta same, “This implies that despite the actual fact that the moratorium on the looking of this vulnerable species won't be raised, hunters can still be able to target the Turtle Dove and this year's spring season - purportedly just for Quail - can solely function a smokescreen for hunters to lawlessly shoot the European Turtle-doves last year, despite the actual fact that BirdLife Malta provided police with footage of a personal lawlessly shooting down a Turtle Dove.
Greece is one amongst the foremost dangerous areas for the eu Turtle-dove. because the bird stops to rest on the Greek Islands, exhausted once an extended journey, gunshots ring out all around it. quite seventy,000 turtle-doves ar thought to be slaughtered there every spring, creating it one amongst the worst black spots.
In response, the Hellenic zoology Society (HOS) is functioning inexhaustibly to make sure the bird’s safety. They use satellite tagging to closely study the migratory journeys of the turtle-doves, and dealing on education campaigns to boost awareness concerning the birds’ plight.
Humanity has created the eu Turtle-dove an emblem of affection and devotion. Our treatment of this bird ought to mirror these values, and make sure that it's around for years to come back.
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