Although the primary focus of BTO's research work is in supporting the delivery of Action Area outcomes, it is largely structured around a series of themes, from tackling the declines in our breeding wader populations through to informing responses to a changing climate.
Acoustic monitoring
From backyard projects to commercial bat surveys, the BTO Acoustic Pipeline provides tools for detecting and identifying birds, bats and other wildlife in audible and ultrasonic sound recordings.
Breeding waders
BTO research is making a significant contribution towards understanding the causes of breeding wader declines, and identifying effective conservation solutions.
Climate change
BTO data and expertise are continuing to make a significant contribution to our understanding of climate change impacts on birds, and informing mitigation and adaptation responses.
Disease
BTO has continued to play a central role in the response to the emergence of infectious diseases in wild birds, from avian influenza to finch trichomonosis, assessing impact and informing future action.
Informing land-use policy
Potential conservation solutions at the landscape level usually require some form of policy action, and BTO evidence supports policy development and evaluation across multiple scales and habitats.
International work
BTO's international research cuts across many of the organisation's research themes and has a broad remit, taking in classical ecological studies, as well as incorporating elements from the social and economic sciences.
Migration research
Our research uses long-term monitoring data alongside cutting edge tracking technology and field studies in Africa to understand the causes of migrant declines, identifying actions that may help to increase their populations.
Monitoring research
Monitoring has been a cornerstone of BTO since its inception, providing robust long-term evidence for changes in bird populations and instigating further research and conservation action.
