BBS National Organiser
James oversees the national coordination of both the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Waterways Breeding Bird Survey (WBBS). Both surveys involve working closely with Regional Organisers from the BTO Regional Network, and BBS and WBBS volunteers to ensure effective coverage by the surveys.
Responsibilities include maintenance of databases, production of reporting outputs, survey promotion and liaison with the volunteer network, the Partner organisations (JNCC and RSPB) and managing a ‘BBS/WBBS support’ role two days a week.
In addition and as part of the BBS, James works in partnership with Butterfly Conservation, the Centre for Hydrology and Ecology and JNCC in order to coordinate the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) on survey squares.
James is interested in methodological problems around data collection for schemes/surveys of all kinds. He has been a BTO volunteer since 2017 and is particularly keen to ensure that these data are as widely used as possible, a view partly inspired from a previous career in medical research.
Other information
Prior to his present role, James worked as an Ecological Consultant in Cambridgeshire, undertaking surveys to inform impact assessments (ornithological, bats, great crested newts to name a few) as well as working on ‘biodiversity audits’ for Local Authorities.
Prior to that, James worked as a Data Scientist in the University of Cambridge, managing datasets as part of research into Type 1 Diabetes. As a student, James spent time in research on fossil and living mammalian herbivores and their morphological adaptations.
James is a keen birder and has a particular interest in waders and their conservation. He loves taking his young family out looking at wildlife, though the same level of enthusiasm is not always shared by them. James also enjoys plant recording and identification, particularly the less fashionable grasses and sedges.
- PhD - Biological Anthropology -University of Cambridge (2005-2009).
- MSc - Applied Ecology & Conservation - University of East Anglia (2016/18).
- MA – Zoology – University of Cambridge (2001-2005).
- Level 4 FISC (Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland).
- Level 1 Survey Licence, Great Crested Newt.
Recent BTO Publications
- Heywood, J.J.N., Massimino, D., Baker, L., Balmer, D.E., Brighton, C.H., Gillings, S., Kelly, L., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., White, D.M., Woodcock, P., Workman, E. & Wotton, S. The Breeding Bird Survey 2024 View at journal website( DOI: )
- Massimino, D., Baillie, S.R., Balmer, D.E., Bashford, R.I., Gregory, R.D., Harris, S.J., Heywood, J.J.N., Kelly, L.A., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Raven, M.J., Risely, K., Woodcock, P., Wotton, S.R. & Gillings, S. The Breeding Bird Survey of the United Kingdom 10.1111/geb.13943 View at journal website( DOI:10.1111/geb.13943 )
- Heywood, J.J.N., Massimino, D., Balmer, D.E., Kelly, L., Marion, S., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., White, D.M., Woodcock, P., Wotton, S. and Gillings, S. The Breeding Bird Survey 2023 View at journal website( DOI: )
- Heywood, J.J.N., Massimino, D., Balmer, D.E., Kelly, L., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Woodcock, P., Wotton, S., Gillings, S. & Harris, S.J. The Breeding Bird Survey 2022 View at journal website( DOI: )