BTO create and publish a variety of important articles, papers, journals and other publications, independently and with our partners, for organisations, government and the private sector. Some of our publications (books, guides and atlases) are also available to buy in our online shop.
Annual report of the Seabird Monitoring Programme
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2023
This report presents the latest seabird population trends in breeding abundance and productivity using data from the Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP).
The report documents changes in the abundance and productivity of breeding seabird species in Britain and Ireland from 1986 to 2023, and provides a detailed account of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons.
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BTO Northern Ireland Marine Bird Evidence Review 2024: marine bird spatial use in the Celtic Seas
Author: Hereward, H.F.R., El Haddad, H., Humphreys, E.M., Taylor, R.C. & Upton, A.J.
Published: 2025
This report was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to scope the evidence available on the movements and spatial distributions of certain marine birds in and around Northern Ireland waters, in order to identify knowledge gaps. The focus is on 37 marine birds found offshore, away from the coastline, that utilise the Celtic Seas (OSPAR Region III) and Ireland Exclusive Economic Zone marine environments. Metadata from 10 different sources (including directly contacting researchers, a literature review and accessing several archived datasets) are used.
07.07.25
Research reports Research reports
Partial niche partitioning in three sympatric gull species through foraging areas and habitat selection
Author: O'Hanlon, N.J., Clewley, G.D., Johnston, D.T., Thaxter, C.B., Langlois Lopez, S., Quinn, L.R., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Masden, E.A., Daunt, F., Wilson, J., Burton, N.H.K. & Humphreys, E.M.
Published: 2025
GPS tracking of three large gull species from the Isle of May, Scotland, revealed overlap in foraging habitats used during the breeding season, but differences in the where the three species foraged, and the strength of their preference for particular habitats, especially landfills, urban and coastal habitats.
01.07.25
Papers
Efficacy of methods for producing population trends of breeding waders from Breeding Bird Survey data
Author: Brighton, C.H., Gillings, S. & Massimino, D.
Published: 2025
This report investigates the efficacy of methods for producing population trends from BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey data for six breeding wader species in the UK. It examines the effects of increasing the count threshold on the population trends for these six species, and also explores the effects of different geographic exclusion rules on the population trend of Golden Plover. Overall, it aims to test for any potential biases in the current trends, and in doing so, determines whether we can create a better approach which provides the most robust data for wader conservation moving forwards.
23.06.25
Research reports Research reports
Review of methods used to calculate scale of artificial nesting structures proposed as a compensation measure for Kittiwake mortality at offshore wind farms
Author: Rhoades, J., Johnston, D.T., Humphreys, E.M. & Boersch-Supan, P.H.
Published: 2025
This report reviews the suitability of methods used to calculate the scale of Artificial Nest Structures (ANS) provided as compensation measures for Kittiwake mortality at offshore wind farms in English waters, due to turbine collision only.
19.06.25
Research reports Research reports
Diet analysis of Kittiwake and Shag using DNA metabarcoding of faeces
Author: O’Hanlon, N.J., Jardine, D.C., Lennon, J., Svobodova, D., Swann, R.L., Ward, R.M., Humphreys, E.M. & Morrissey, B.J.
Published: 2025
This study used DNA metabarcoding on faeces collected opportunistically during the breeding season, to identify fish and marine invertebrate prey in the diet of Shag and Kittiwake in western Scotland.
17.06.25
Papers
