News

World Curlew Day

The Curlew is an iconic species in the British countryside. Find out how BTO is working to support conservation of this Red-listed species.

21 Apr 2022

Human activity can help as well as hinder UK butterflies

View the 2021 results from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme

29 Mar 2022

National Nest Box Week

Valentine's Day marks the start of National Nest Box Week.

14 Feb 2022

Kickstart your BirdTrack Year

Kickstart your BirdTrack Year by taking part in a big year; BirdTrack will identify some target species that you are missing.

14 Jan 2022

BTO review of the year 2021

Thanks to our staff, volunteers, supporters, funders and partners, together we have achieved so much, despite 2021 being a tough year. Look back on some of the highlights with our video review of the...

26 Dec 2021

BTO produces new climate change report

04 Nov 2021

BTO Christmas range now available

Buy BTO Christmas cards and the 2022 BTO Calendar now.

30 Sep 2021

New Indicator for Wintering Waterbirds in Scotland

The latest Biodiversity Indicator for Wintering Waterbirds in Scotland shows declines.

09 Sep 2021

New taxa added to BirdTrack

You can now record butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, and orchids in BirdTrack

29 Jul 2021

Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder – it’s back!

Spurn Bird Observatory Trust and the BTO are once again welcoming all young birders to take part in the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder event.

08 Jun 2021

A tale of two warblers

Despite limited 2020 data due to COVID-19 restrictions, the latest BTO/RSPB/JNCC Breeding Bird Survey report highlights interesting trends.

13 May 2021

PJ the Cuckoo breaks records

PJ the Cuckoo has arrived back in his Suffolk home – becoming the first bird in the project to complete his fifth annual migration cycle.

23 Apr 2021

Scaup on the slide, Spoonbill on the rise

Find out how Scaup are spending their winters in the latest Wetland Bird Survey report.

20 Apr 2021

Barn Owls in 2020: an update from Colin Shawyer

Widely recognised for his work on the study and conservation of owls and raptors, biologist and professional ecologist Colin Shawyer has collaborated with the BTO on projects such as Project Ba

23 Mar 2021

BirdTrends 2020 published

The BTO's BirdTrends report is a one-stop shop for information about the population status of the common breeding birds of the wider UK countryside.

05 Mar 2021

BTO Equipment Donation Scheme launched

Do you have a pair of binoculars you no longer use, or a bird guide book that is gathering dust?

19 Feb 2021

National Nest Box Week 2021

This week (14-21 February) is National Nest Box Week.

14 Feb 2021

LifeCycle issue 9 - ready to read

Issue 9 of LifeCycle includes the results from the 2019 breeding season, generated from NRS, CES and RAS data.

08 Dec 2020

Blue Tits missing from gardens following heatwave

Garden BirdWatch has shown that some of our favourite garden species have been struggling this year, possibly due to the unusually warm spring.

17 Nov 2020

A new BTO CEO, a new BTO podcast

Juliet Vickery has now officially started work as BTO CEO. She sat down with outgoing CEO Andy Clements and BTO Youth Advisory Panel member Greg Palmer to talk about challenges, successes and...

02 Nov 2020

Join us for the Marsh Awards online

Join us online as BTO recognises the contributions that individuals make to our understanding of birds through our annual awards.

27 Oct 2020

Feed our finches

Autumn is the perfect time to clean and fill up your bird feeders ready for the cold months ahead - look out for Siskins and Bullfinches.

29 Oct 2020

BTO and COVID-19

BTO statement on participating in surveys during the Coronavirus pandemic (UPDATED 17.01.2022).

17 Jan 2022

Announcing our new patron

His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge has become Patron of the BTO, assuming the patronage from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh who has held the role for over 30 years.

19 Oct 2020

October 2020 Golden Plover Survey - Can you help?

On 17–19 October 2020 there will be a coordinated census of Eurasian Golden Plovers across Europe, repeating comparable surveys carried out in 2014, 2008 and 2003.

15 Oct 2020

An unexpected journey

On 1 September Suffolk Cuckoo Carlton II gave us all a surprise.

11 Sep 2020

New Ringing Report reveals amazing journeys

During 2019 some of our ringed birds undertook incredible journeys, taking them from Britain & Ireland to distant shores (or vice-versa).

27 Jul 2020

Nest box prize draw for Nesting Neighbours participants

Would you like to have your garden kitted out for the breeding season next year? The Nestbox Company are offering an amazing package of twelve bird, bug and bat boxes, worth over £250, to one lucky...

17 Jul 2020

Introducing our new Chief Executive

We are proud to announce that Professor Juliet Vickery will take over from Dr Andy Clements at the end of the year.

17 Jul 2020

Celebrating 25 years of garden birds with our Summer Raffle

Our Summer Raffle will be raising vital funds for our continued work to understand garden birds and their habitats.

09 Jul 2020

Vanishing Terns on the Skerries

The UK's largest Arctic Tern breeding colony has been abandoned, and BTO scientists are asking the public for help to work out where these birds have gone.

22 Jun 2020

Stop to watch for mental health

BTO has produced a downloadable podcast narrated by actor Martin Shaw, aimed at improving wellbeing through mindful birdwatching.

18 May 2020