The effect of supplementary feeding on territory size, territory density and breeding success of the Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur: A field experiment.

Abstract

To field-test possible conservation measures to assist the recovery of turtle doves Streptopelia turtur in the UK, and as part of an intensive three-year autecological study, an experimental manipulation of summer food resources was undertaken. The experiment, which took place in 1999 and 2000 on ten study sites across Norfolk and Suffolk, provided supplementary food and monitored turtle dove territory size, territory density and breeding success. No significant effect of supplementary feeding was detected, probably because the scale of the experiment was insufficient (despite an average site size of 271 ha). For such a mobile species, an appropriate scale is probably an order of magnitude greater than that attempted, and can be achieved only through appropriate regional agricultural policies.