Conservationists have released more than two dozen turtle doves in the South Downs National Park as part of a major effort to help the species recover. The turtle dove, a small bird known for its appearance in the popular Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," is now the UK's fastest declining bird species, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). This spring, the national park authority released 30 birds in the Selborne area of Hampshire as part of an urgent initiative to restore their population, with plans to release an additional 100 doves next year. Turtle doves are currently listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern's red list, which highlights species at high risk of extinction in the UK. Their numbers have dropped by 98% in the UK between the late 1960s and 2023, largely due to habitat loss and changes in agricultural practices. Park ranger Paul Bushell explained that the turtle dove is unique as Europe's only migratory dove species, and while there are still small numbers of the birds living in the national park, their survival is under threat. To support the turtle dove population, the national park authority has taken several measures, including planting suitable food sources such as "weedy" wildflowers like fumitory and vetch, and restoring seven ponds near nesting sites. These efforts aim to create a more hospitable environment for the birds and encourage them to return next year. Bushell noted that the 30 turtle doves released this spring "seem really happy," and one of the females has returned to the enclosure to lay eggs, which he described as "incredibly encouraging." The released birds are expected to migrate approximately 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to their overwintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa before returning to the South Downs in spring 2027. Conservationists are hopeful that these efforts will help stabilize the turtle dove population and prevent further decline in the UK.