Turtledoves need areas that are rich in blossom and seeds
Markus Varesvuo/naturepl.com
Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for lovebirds, but real lovebirds – turtledoves – are struggling, according to BirdLife Switzerland. Their numbers have plummeted by 80% in Europe since 1980.
“Save the turtledoves,” BirdLife urged in a statementExternal link on Friday. The reasons for the sharp decline are habitat loss, poaching and legal but no longer sustainable hunting, it said.
The loss of suitable habitats for breeding is related to the advancing industrialisation of agriculture, the organisation explained.
Turtledoves feed on seeds. In the past, numerous plant species could be found on unpaved paths in cultivated land, and so-called arable flora grew in fields, a rich group of valuable plants which have almost completely disappeared today.
“Herbicides and the frequent cultivation of the soil with agricultural machinery make it almost impossible for these plants to survive,” says the report.
BirdLife Switzerland is calling for a rethink and an agricultural policy that better compensates farmers for services to biodiversity and the environment. The turtledove needs areas that are rich in blossom and seeds with patchy vegetation, especially below 500 metres above sea level, it said.
Together with farmers, BirdLife Switzerland has started trials to create suitable areas for turtledoves to be able to forage.
More
More
Making Switzerland a better place for birds
This content was published on
If you’re a crested tit in the woods, Switzerland is a great place to live. But if you’re a skylark you’re in trouble.
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
Ecological status of Swiss streams insufficient according to study
This content was published on
Pesticide use and obstructions of waterways have a particularly negative impact on sensitive organisms, completely absent in 70% of streams analysed.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
This content was published on
One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
This content was published on
No matter how green and beautiful it appears in postcards and social media posts, Switzerland is struggling to boost its biodiversity.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.