Support our surveys

Support our surveys

BTO needs your help – for the future of the UK’s wild birds.

With unprecedented pressures on funding, we need your help now more than ever to continue our essential surveys.

Give monthly
Or make a one-off donation instead

BTO needs your help – for the future of the UK’s wild birds.

With unprecedented pressures on funding, we need your help now more than ever to continue our essential surveys.

Give monthly
Or make a one-off donation instead

The bedrock of effective conservation

“In my 30 years at BTO, the single biggest thing I’ve come to appreciate is how fortunate we are to have robust and long-running data from our bird surveys.

They are the bedrock of effective conservation, the North Star guiding our work to help the UK’s bird populations recover.”

Dawn Balmer

Head of Surveys

The surveys we lead on cover two-thirds of the UK’s breeding birds and underpin conservation in the UK

This monitoring work is not quick or easy – it requires long-term data and long-term support

But there are fewer funding resources, and wild birds need us now more than ever

Groundbreaking work for Nightingales in the UK

In just 50 years we have lost over 90% of this iconic species.

Thousands of BTO survey hours have identified the most important sites for this well-loved species. This critical evidence helped protect the important habitat at Lodge Hill from development, a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is home to the UK’s largest remaining Nightingale population.

What we learnt from the survey data may have been a turning point for this special little bird and its legendary song – this is the difference your support can make.

The difference we make

“BTO continues to lead the way in modernising how we understand what is happening to our wildlife.

Crucially, BTO excels in bringing information to life for both the public and decision-makers.”

“In short, nature needs BTO.”

Martin Harper

RSPB’s former Conservation Director

Because of our surveys we know that ...

... Turtle Dove, Corn Bunting, and Willow Tit numbers have fallen to less than 10% of their 1970 levels.

... Cuckoo in Scotland increased by 60% between 2011 and 2021.

... conservation has succeeded for Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Red Kite.

“Surveys and monitoring are at the very heart of BTO. Please help us keep that heart pumping.”

Dawn Balmer, Head of Surveys

Support our surveys – set up a regular gift today

Give monthly

Or make a one-off donation instead
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