Related Species

Press releases

Europe's breeding birds get long-overdue stocktake

December 2020

New European Breeding Bird Atlas, a milestone for biodiversity research and nature conservation in Europe, is published today...

New report reveals good news for rare breeding birds

December 2020

New data shows that in 2018 ten species of rare birds bred in their highest ever recorded numbers across the UK Thanks to extensive conservation work including reintroductions and habitat management, the fate of some of these birds continues to improve However, some species haven’t fared as well, with some being impacted by cold winter weather and problems on migration In the latest analysis of the UK’s rarest breeding birds, ten species have been recorded in greater numbers than in any previous year...

New study identifies woodland management practices that are good for Britain’s bats

November 2020

New research, just published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management, has assessed bat populations across broadleaved woodlands managed in different ways...

Blue Tits missing from our gardens following spring heatwave

November 2020

The lockdown has allowed many people to reconnect with nature, but evidence from British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Garden BirdWatch survey has shown that some of our favourite garden species, such as the Blue Tit, have been struggling this year, possibly due to the unusually warm spring...

Citizen scientists help lift the lid on one of our nearest avian neighbours

November 2020

An army of citizen scientists across the UK has provided scientists at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) with new insights into the nesting habits of the House Martin, arguably our closest nesting neighbour...

Suffolk Cuckoo's Atlantic odyssey

September 2020

For the last two years British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) researchers have been following a Suffolk Cuckoo on its annual migration to central Africa – what it did on 1 September took them all by surprise! The male Cuckoo, named 'Carlton II' by the team, was fitted with a satellite tag during the spring of 2018 and has been providing BTO scientists with information on his movements ever since...

Families asked to monitor garden birds this summer - with the chance to get creative

August 2020

Love birds? Love drawing? The British Trust for Ornithology’s summer project gives families a great reason to watch garden birds together, and the chance to win a pair of compact binoculars for the best garden bird drawing! Garden BirdWatch (GBW) is a scientific project that monitors birds in gardens, but it’s also a great activity for families to do together...

Ringing report shines light on some amazing birds

July 2020

The latest report from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows just how amazing some of our birds are...

BTO names its new Chief Executive

July 2020

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has named Professor Juliet Vickery as its new Chief Executive...

The seabird colony vanishes

June 2020

The UK’s largest breeding colony of Arctic Terns has vanished and scientists need help to find out where the birds have gone...

Actor Martin Shaw teams up with ornithologists to support well-being and mental health; encouraging us to "stop and watch"

May 2020

Actor Martin Shaw,  known for his roles in The Professionals, Judge John Deed and Inspector George Gently, has teamed up with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to promote the value of connecting with nature through mindful birdwatching, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week...

Over 7,000 people sign up for garden citizen science survey during lockdown

May 2020

Gardens cover more land than nature reserves in the UK, yet their importance for our wildlife is under recorded – is that about to change? While our movements have been restricted, many of us have spent more time watching and enjoying our garden wildlife...

Familiar Welsh birds slipping away

May 2020

The latest report on the UK’s breeding birds shows that one of Wales’ most familiar birds is in trouble...

Woodland singer goes through the roof in Northern Ireland

May 2020

The latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report on the UK’s bird species shows that one summer visitor is enjoying what Northern Ireland has to offer...

Mixed bag for Scottish seedeaters

May 2020

The latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report, covering population trends for the UK’s bird species, shows that sparrows are doing better in Scotland than the rest of the UK...

The latest report on UK’s breeding birds shows mixed results

May 2020

The latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report, covering population trends for the UK’s bird species, is released today...

British Cuckoo completes 22,000 mile odyssey in record time

April 2020

 A Cuckoo called Carlton II has just arrived back in England having spent the last ten months travelling to and from the Congo rainforest, becoming the first of the BTO’s satellite tracked cuckoos to return to this country in 2020...

National Garden Bird Survey reaches 25 years

April 2020

In 1995 the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) launched a weekly garden bird survey: Garden BirdWatch (GBW)...

Volunteers' data vital in wetland conservation

April 2020

Data collected by volunteers as part of the Wetland Bird Survey, and published in a report today, play a crucial role in the designation of protected wetland sites in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and underline their importance in helping to conserve our waterbirds...

National community of garden birdwatchers offers people the opportunity to stay connected to nature from home

April 2020

Each week, for the past 25 years, an army of citizen scientists has recorded the birds and other wildlife visiting their gardens, enabling researchers at the BTO to answer important questions about garden wildlife...

The early bird counts the worms

March 2020

Humble earthworms are vital for soil health, but concerns are being expressed about declines in their populations...

Building for bats in an urban world

February 2020

A new study by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the University of Turin shows how to minimise impacts of urban growth on bats at a time when the need for new housing often hits the headlines...

It’s official – the Wren is our commonest bird

February 2020

In the latest report looking at the size of our bird populations the Wren tops the list with 11 million pairs across the UK...

ARTISTS AND WRITERS SHOW SOME LOVE FOR RED-LISTED BIRDS

January 2020

A new creative collaboration, bringing together two of Britain’s wild bird charities and leading writers and artists, has just been launched...

The 2019 breeding season; a year to remember for Blackcaps and Blue Tits

January 2020

Information collected by British Trust for Ornithology volunteer bird ringers and nest recorders provides an insight into how some of our resident and migratory birds fared during the 2019 breeding season...

Where are all the Turtle Doves and Partridges?

December 2019

The latest BirdTrends report from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows a very mixed bag for our birds, with some showing marked increases and others in steep decline...

Scottish owl tracked to Morocco's 'oyster capital'

December 2019

A Short-eared Owl, fitted with a satellite tag while breeding in Scotland, has been tracked to Morocco, revealing significant new information for British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) researchers...

Glimmers of hope for UK's wild birds

November 2019

Published today, the Wild Bird Populations in the UK, 1970-2018 report shows that after years of decline, and despite a poor 2018 breeding season, there are the signs of recovery for at least some of our wild birds...

Gardenwatch; first findings on how we can improve our gardens for wildlife

October 2019

Gardens provide important space for our wildlife, but they could provide even more, according to preliminary results from Gardenwatch, the UK’s biggest-ever garden audit...

UK wetlands get a health check

October 2019

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Alerts, published today, highlight how well protected wetland sites in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are working for wintering waterbirds in the short-, medium- and long-term...

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