The former owner of Pensthorpe Natural Park in Norfoik insists that the RSPB is trying to block his old practice of releasing the endangered doves to boost numbers GETTY IMAGESThe founder and former owner of a private nature reserve that has hosted the BBC programme Springwatch has accused the RSPB of obstructing efforts to boost numbers of critically endangered turtle doves. Bill Makins, 85, said that Pensthorpe Natural Park should release its captive doves to help the species recover in the wild. The migrant birds, which are a symbol of love, are on a red list of endangered British birds because their populations have fallen by more than 90 per cent since 1995. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) warned that they would be “close to extinction in the UK within the next two decades”, unless the trend is reversed. Mr Makins said that the 700-acre park near Fakenham, in Norfolk, had proved that…

Source: The Times August 28, 2017 23:08 UTC