Meet Georgie … Langdyke’s newest and probably most travelled member.
She’s of no fixed address, most recently seen perched on the power lines alongside the Maxey Cut and occasionally glimpsed on one of Langdyke’s reserves nearby.
Georgie is one of the rare Turtle Doves seen in the area – officially known by the ring on her right leg as number EA56987. But named Georgie by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds after being ringed with a yellow and black tag in a farmyard in Kent in May 2022. She’s now tracked as often as possible by Operation Turtle Dove which is supported by Langdyke members led by Ian Wilson.
Since being ringed she’s been picked up on camera several times and at one time had a GPS tag which showed that she had probably mated with another bird. The tag is likely to have dropped off when she moulted.
She hasn’t been seen in Kent this year, but has been photographed alongside the Maxey Cut by membership secretary Angela Trotter earlier this month. Angela immediately made her an honorary member of the Langdyke Facebook group. Georgie is thought to be at least five years old.
It turns out that Georgie’s partner Guy is still flying around the same area of Kent – but has a new partner. Remarkably a friend of Langdyke member Sheila Dunford read about the Turtle Doves in Kent and got in touch to report that they had heard Georgie had turned up in this area. Sheila was able to complete the story for the south coast birders.
The sighting of Georgie has been recorded and reported to Operation Turtle Dove the organisation which tracks the birds
Turtle Doves were once a regular summer visitor to the area, but since the 1970s their numbers have declined because of illness, hunting and loss of habitat in their wintering grounds. They are our only long-distance migratory dove.
Have you seen Georgie? If you do spot her please let us know by emailing nature@langdyke.org.uk
You can find out more about the Langdyke operation here
There is more information about Georgie here mardenwildlife.org.uk/turtle-dove-research