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Our blog offers specialist insight and unique perspective from a wide range of BTO staff, volunteers and guest writers, giving context and inviting discussion on various aspects of our work. It includes:

A series of important posts by BTO Youth.
Updates on how the latest tagged cuckoos are faring as they migrate to and from Africa.
How our latest strategy plays a crucial role in tackling the twin biodiversity and climate crises.
Reflections on our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusivity.

Blogs on specific topics

Demography Blog

The Demog blog covers all things realting to the study of the characteristics of populations, such as size, growth, density, distribution, and vital statistics.

BirdTrack Migration Blog

During the months when migration is at its peak, the migblog will predict which species you may see in the coming week and where best to look for migrant birds.

BTO Youth Blog

The Youth blog gives a voice to the young people we work and engage with across the UK, covering programmes of work, events, opinion pieces and interviews.

Guillemots, Shags and Kittiwakes at a breeding colony, by Katherine Hampton

Featured blog post

The next generation of seabird champions

17 May 2024

Recipients of our seabird ringing grant volunteered with the Grampian Ringing Group last summer and shared their amazing experiences with us.

Blog Series

Common Swift.

Flight Paths: the story of bird migration science

Science writer Rebecca Heisman tells us how she came to write her first book, Flight Paths, and why it’s vital that we tell the stories of the birds around us.

07 Jul 2023

Wild Weekend 2023.

Finding the wild side in Northern Ireland

Jemma Davies is the new Engagement Coordinator for BTO in Northern Ireland. How better to kick off her role than the Wild Weekend at Oxford Island?

30 Jun 2023

Cuckoo. Edmund Fellowes / BTO

Cuckoos’ clocks can’t adjust to climate change – now we know why

Why aren’t Cuckoos returning any earlier as spring advances, and why is this important?

21 Jun 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (mid June–mid July)

As Midsummer’s Day approaches, the breeding season continues apace with the first broods of summer migrants now leaving the nest.

16 Jun 2023

Feature image for the People's Plan for Nature blog showing moss and lichens in a woodland setting. Mike Toms / BTO

BTO’s role in the People’s Plan for Nature

BTO’s CEO Juliet Vickery explains how our new strategy will contribute to this ambitious call to action.

06 Jun 2023

Equity vs Equality

Equality vs equity: a crucial distinction in BTO’s work around diversity and inclusion

BTO's CEO Juliet Vickery discusses a shift in our focus.

01 Jun 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (late May–mid June)

As spring progresses towards summer, migration continues to slow. Most breeding species will be either in the full throws of breeding or close to their breeding grounds.

26 May 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (19–25 May)

A week of relatively settled conditions enabled a steady stream of late migrants to arrive, and allowed an occasional scarce species to make landfall.

19 May 2023

BTO Youth Engagement Strategy

Launching the new BTO Youth Engagement Strategy

Youth Advisory Panel member Katie Monk discusses developing BTO Youth’s new strategy, and why an inclusive environment for young people is vital for nature’s future.

15 May 2023

Swift. Philip Croft / BTO

BirdTrack migration blog (12–18 May)

As we reach the height of spring migration, the variety of species to be found is almost at its peak, and the spell of warmer weather over the coronation bank holiday weekend brought with it a steady stream of birds.

12 May 2023

Hobby.

BirdTrack migration blog (5–11 May)

The changeable weather over the past week meant migrating birds continued to arrive in fits and starts, although some notable rarities were found.

05 May 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (14–20 April)

The mixed bag of weather over the last week brought a few nice surprises and a steady trickle of migrants.

12 Apr 2023

Cuckoo.

BirdTrack migration blog (28 April–4 May)

As expected, the mixed bag of weather over the last week resulted in a trickle rather than a flow of birds arriving.

28 Apr 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (21–27 April)

A week of sunshine, rain and blustery easterly winds kept the pace of migration relatively slow given the time of year.

21 Apr 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (7–13 April)

During the last week, spring migration has stepped up a gear with species such as Nightingale, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, and Cuckoo making their first appearance of 2023.

06 Apr 2023

Gannets and Herring Gulls foraging at sea.

Finding food: deciphering the foraging ‘fingerprints’ of Gannets

Chris Pollock explains how studying the unique movements and behaviours of individual Gannets can help us to understand the impact of environmental change on their populations.

05 Apr 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (31 March–6 April)

A change in wind direction over the past week coupled with some prolonged and often heavy bursts of rain slowed migration – but some birds still made it through.

30 Mar 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (24–30 March)

Spring has certainly sprung in the last week, as summer migrants have taken advantage of warmer weather with a funnel of south-westerlies aiding their arrival.

24 Mar 2023

Great Crested Grebes on nest, Sarah Kelman

Amazing nesters: a journey through the bird breeding season

Bird breeding behaviours to watch out for this spring, and how to get started with nest monitoring.

16 Mar 2023

View with the sea stacks Drangarnir in the distance, Lesley Hindley

Ken Williamson's Faroe Islands Diaries: From Thetford to Tórshavn (and back)

BTO Archivist Lesley Hindley on her travels to the Faroe Islands to digitise the wartime diaries of Kenneth Williamson.

10 Mar 2023

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