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Waterbirds in the UK
Cover of Waterbirds in the UK report 2021-2022

Waterbirds in the UK 2021/22: The Wetland Bird Survey and Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme

2023 | Austin, G.E., Calbrade, N.A., Birtles, G.A., Peck, K., Wotton, S.R., Shaw, J.M., Balmer, D.E. & Frost, T.M.

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Latest Publications

State of Nature Report

State of Nature report 2023

The current state of nature

2023 | Burns, F., Mordue, S., al Fulaij, N., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Boswell, J., Boyd, R.J., Bradfer-Lawrence, T., de Ornellas, P., de Palma, A., de Zylva, P., Dennis, E.B., Foster, S., Gilbert, G., Halliwell, L., Hawkins, K., Haysom, K.A., Holland, M.M., Hughes, J., Jackson, A.C., Mancini, F., Mathews, F., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Noble, D.G., O’Brien, D., Pescott, O.L., Purvis, A., Simkin, J., Smith, A., Stanbury, A.J., Villemot, J., Walker, K.J., Walton, P., Webb, T.J., Williams, J., Wilson, R. & Gregory, R.D.

The UK, like most other countries worldwide, has experienced a significant loss of biodiversity.

LifeCycle

LifeCycle issue 12, Summer 2023

2023 |

This issue contains articles on Redshank and Dunnock nest finding as well as a feature with advice and guidance on accessing funding to help fund fieldwork.

Peer-reviewed papers
Adult Kittiwake and chick, by Liz Cutting / BTO

A crowded ocean: the need for demographic and movement data in seabird conservation

2023 | O’Hanlon, N.J., Johnston, D.T., Cook, A.S.C.P., Robinson, R.A. & Humphreys, E.M. Ocean and Coastal Management

To implement effective conservation actions, locally and globally, we need to quantify the importance of the multiple, often interacting, threats to seabird population growth rates.

Research Reports
A Little Grebe photographed by Graham Catley. The bird is in winter plumage and is sitting on the water.

Analysis of wintering waterbird population trends for the Lough Neagh and Lough Beg Special Protection Area (SPA)

Waterbird trends for the Lough Neagh and Lough Beg Special Protection Area

2023 | El Haddad, H., Austin, G., Woodward, I. & Booth Jones, K.

This analysis of Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) data for the Lough Neagh and Lough Beg SPA provides details of wintering waterfowl population changes around the loughs and assists in identifying potential

Peer-reviewed papers
Curlew, Allan Drewitt / BTO

Lasso Penalisation identifies consistent trends over time in landscape and climate factors influencing the wintering distribution of the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

2023 | Kenobi, K., Read, W., Bowgen, K., Macgregor, C., Taylor, R., Cámaro García, W., Hodges, C., Dennis, P. & Holloway, P. Ecological Informatics

Research Reports
Brown Rat, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO

Bioacoustics as a novel approach for detecting the presence of Brown Rats on seabird islands

Detecting Brown Rats on seabird islands

2023 | Newson, S.E., Else, R., Crymble, J., Gilbert, G., Tosh, D.G. & Booth Jones, K.A.

Introduced Brown Rats can devastate seabird colonies, predating both eggs and chicks. Can we use bioacoustic technology to detect and monitor this threat?

Peer-reviewed papers
Brambling, John Harding / BTO

Local colonisations and extinctions of European birds are poorly explained by changes in climate suitability

2023 | Howard, C., Marjakangas, E.-M., Morán-Ordóñez, A., Milanesi, P., Abuladze, A., Aghababyan, K., Ajder, V., Arkumarev, V., Balmer, D.E., Bauer, H.-G., Beale, C.M., Bino, T., Ali Boyla, K., Burfield, I.J., Burke, B., Caffrey, B., Chodkiewicz, T., Del Moral, J.C., Dumbovic Mazal, V., Fernández, N., Fornasari, L., Gerlach, B., Godinho, C., Herrando, S., Ieronymidou, C., Johnston, A., Jovicevic, M., Kalyakin, M., Keller, V., Knaus, P., Kotrošan, D., Kuzmenko, T,, Leitão, D., Lindström, Å., Maxhuni, Q., Mihelič, T., Mikuska, T., Molina, B., Nagy, K., Noble, D., Jostein Øien, I., Paquet, J.-Y., Pladevall, C., Portolou, D., Radišić, D., Rajkov, S., Rajković, D.Z., Raudonikis, L., Sattler, T., Saveljić, D., Shimmings, P., Sjenicic, J., Šťastný, K., Stoychev, K., Strus, I., Sudfeldt, C., Sultanov, E., Szép, T., Teufelbauer, N., Uzunova, D., van Turnhout, C.A.M., Velevski, M., Vikstrøm, T., Vintche Nature Communications

Research Reports
BTO Research Report 758 cover

Assessing movements of Lesser Black-backed Gulls using GPS tracking devices in relation to the Galloper Wind Farm<br /> 

2023 | Green, R.M., Thaxter, C.B., Johnston, D.T., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Bouten, W. & Burton, N.H.K.

Peer-reviewed papers
Fulmar, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO

Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds

Disproportionately high risk for threatened seabirds from marine plastic.

2023 | Clark, B.L. et al. Nature Communications

Peer-reviewed papers
Plantation woodland, Mike Toms / BTO

Seeing the wood for the trees, irregular silviculture supports bat populations in conifer plantations

How do bats respond to different approaches to the management of conifer plantations

2023 | Cook, P., Alder, D., Hordley, L., Newson, S.E. & Pengelly, D. Forest Ecology and Management

Conifer woodland covers 1.6 million hectares of the UK and is an important source of economic revenue.

Peer-reviewed papers
Cuckoo, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO

Spring arrival of the Common Cuckoo at breeding grounds is strongly determined by environmental conditions in tropical Africa

West African stopover determines timing of Cuckoo arrival

2023 | Davies, J.G., Kirkland, M., Miller, M.G.R., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Atkinson, P.W. & Hewson, C.M. Proceedings of the Royal Society B

The authors use 11 years of satellite tracking data from 87 male Cuckoos, tagged at 11 sites across the UK, to examine variation in migratory timing throughout the annual cycle and its potential co

Peer-reviewed papers

The phenology and clutch size of UK Blue Tits does not differ with woodland composition

Does the timing of Blue Tit breeding vary with woodland composition?

2023 | Branston, C.J., Whittingham, M.J., Phillimore, A.B., Leech, D. & Willis, S.G. Ibis

Peer-reviewed papers
A Redshank perched on a fencepost with its bill open photographed by Philip Croft

Changes in breeding wader populations of the Uist machair and adjacent habitats between 1983 and 2022

Study shows 25% decline in breeding waders between 1983 and 2022

2023 | Calladine, J., Fuller, R., Hodkinson, D., Franks, S. & Boyle, J. Scottish Birds

Peer-reviewed papers
GPS-tagged Great Black-backed Gull, Sam Langlois Lopez

Reduced breeding success in Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus due to harness-mounted GPS device

2023 | Langlois Lopez, S., Clewley, G.D., Johnston, D.T., Daunt, F., Wildon, J.M., O'Hanlon, N.J. & Masden, E. Ibis

Studies involving fitting animals with bio-logging devices have provided essential information on behaviour, ecology, physiology and ultimately species conservation.

Peer-reviewed papers
Yellow Bishop by Rini Kools Adobe Stock

Sunning in Yellow Bishops Euplectes capensis

New sunning behaviour in Yellow Bishop

2023 | Oschadleus, H.D. & Boersch-Supan, P.H. Ostrich

Peer-reviewed papers
Dartford Warbler, by Liz Cutting / BTO

Ecological barriers mediate spatio-temporal shifts of bird communities at a continental scale

Ecological barriers limit the ability of birds to respond to climate change

2023 | Marjakangas, E.-L., Bosco, L., Versluijs, M., Xu, Y., Santangeli, A., Holopainen, S., Mäkeläinen, S., Herrando, S., Keller, V., Voříšek, P., Brotons, L., Johnston, A., Princé, K., Willis, S.G., Aghababyan, K., Ajder, V., Balmer, D.E., Bino, T., Boyla, K.A., Chodkiewicz, T., del Moral, J.C., Mazal, V.D., Ferrarini, A., Godinho, C., Gustin, M., Kalyakin, M., Knaus, P., Kuzmenko, T., Lindström, Å., Maxhuni, Q., Molina, B., Nagy, K., Radišić, D., Rajkov, S., Rajković, D.Z., Raudoniki, L., Sjeničić, J., Stoychev, S., Szép, T., Teufelbauer, N., Ursul, S., van Turnhout, C.M., Velevski, M., Vikstrøm, T., Wilk, T., Voltzit, O., Øien, I.J., Sudfeldt, C., Gerlach, B. & Lehikoinen, A. PNAS

A changing climate places pressure on individuals, species and communities, forcing them to either adapt to changing conditions or move to where conditions remain favourable.

Peer-reviewed papers
Tree Sparrow, by Liz Cutting / BTO

Drivers of the changing abundance of European birds at two spatial scales

Study highlights significant losses of European birds

2023 | Gregory, R.D., Eaton, M.A., Burfield, I.J., Grice, P.V., Howard, C., Klvaňová, A., Noble, D., Šilarová, E., Staneva, A., Stephens, P.A., Willis, S.G., Woodward, I.D. & Burns, F. Proc. Roy. Soc. B

This piece of research explores the question of measuring and detecting biodiversity change for European birds, which are well monitored in many European countries thanks to ongoing monitoring prog

The Breeding Bird Survey Report
Skylark by Liz Cutting

The Breeding Bird Survey 2022

Population trends of the UK’s breeding birds

2023 | 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.

Peer-reviewed papers
Comma butterfly, Liz Cutting / BTO

Trends in butterfly populations in UK gardens - new evidence from citizen science monitoring

Butterflies find safe haven in UK gardens

2023 | Plummer, K.E., Dadam, D., Brereton, T., Dennis, E.B., Massimino, D., Risely, K., Siriwardena, G.M. & Toms, M.P. Insect Conservation and Diversity

Data from 7,971 gardens between 2007 and 2020 have been used to produce garden-specific abundance trends for 22 widespread butterfly species.

Peer-reviewed papers
Marsh Tit, Liz Cutting / BTO

Temporal avoidance as a means of reducing competition between sympatric species

Do Marsh Tits modify their behaviour to reduce competition?

2023 | Maziarz, M., Broughton, R.K., Beck, K.B., Robinson, R.A. & Sheldon, B.C. Royal Society Open Science

Competition between species has been put forward as a possible reason for the declines seen in some bird species, including Marsh Tit and Willow Tit, but confirming a causal link between competitio

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