Birdwatch - May 2021

Operation Turtle Dove
European Turtle Dove has suffered a catastrophic decline in the UK, reflecting a much more widespread loss across Europe. Without urgent action, its gentle purr – a sound evocative of summer – could be lost forever. Jake Zarins of the RSPB looks at reasons behind the falls, identifies targeted conservation action that is taking place and explains how you can help.

Thief of the seas
Many birders will be visiting coastal watchpoints this month, hoping for a glimpse of an iconic migrant seabird: Pomarine Skua. Find out all about this especially popular skua species, of which many will be passing through British waters in May, in David Callahan’s in-depth species profile. 

Parks and recreation
In the next part in our occasional series on the environments that can be surprisingly productive for wildlife, Dominic Mitchell examines the importance of parks and gardens for a range of bird species, offering much-need safe havens for nature in urban settings. 

Looking for godwits
The two godwit species present in the UK – Black-tailed and Bar-tailed – can sometimes be tricky to separate, while the possibility of Hudsonian Godwit (a rare vagrant to these shores) further muddies the waters. Josh Jones provides the information you need to identify all three in all plumages.

Plus: more thought-provoking comment from columnists Dominic Mitchell, Lucy McRobert and Mark Avery, our latest photo challenge, the team at BirdGuides provides round-ups of March’s birding highlights from Britain, Ireland and the wider Western Palearctic, news, views and reviews, tips and advice on improving your birding and your questions answered by our expert panel.