Filter Publications

Peer-reviewed papers

Peer Journal sample covers

It is BTO’s policy to make public the results of our research. Our aim is to publish as much as possible of our work in the peer reviewed scientific literature.  Many results are also published in our BTO Research Report series.

Henderson, I., Barton, M., Field, A., Husbands, R., Jones, G., Armour-Chelu, N. & Conway, G.J 2025. Post-fledging movements in an elusive raptor, the Eurasian Goshawk Accipiter gentilis: scale of dispersal, foraging range and habitat interactions in lowland England. Ibis Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13403)
Green, R.E., Taggart, M.A., Pain, D.J., Clark, N.A., Cromie, R., Dodd, S.G., Elliot, B., Green, R.M.W., Greenwood, L., Huntley, B., Leslie, R., Porter, R., Price, M., Roberts, J., Robinson, R.A., Smith, K.W., Smith, L., Spencer, J., David Stroud, D. & Thompson, T. 2025. The proportion of common pheasants shot using lead shotgun ammunition in Britain has barely changed over five years of voluntary efforts to switch from lead to non-lead ammunition. Conservation Evidence Journal 22 : 18-25 Link to Article (DOI: 10.52201/CEJ22/EXYS6184)
Broughton, R.K., Cholewa, M., Czeszczewik, D., Fuller, R.J., Jaroszewicz, B., Kuijper, D.P.J., Maziarz, M., Mikusiński, G. & Neubauer, G. 2025. The Białowieża Forest as an example of the resilience of long-term studies in a changing world. Biological Conservation 304 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111045)
Johnston, D.T., Humphreys, E.M., Davies, J.G., Evans, T., Howells, R.J. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2025. Current understanding of how climate change affects seabirds varies between regions and species in the North-East Atlantic. Marine Ecology Progress Series 755 : 163-177 Link to Article (DOI: 10.3354/meps14785 )
Border, J.A., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Hewson, C., Howard, C., Stephens, P.A., Willis, S.G., Fuller, R.A., Hanson, J.O., Sierdsema, H., Foppen, R.B.P., Brotons, L., Gargallo, G. & Baillie, S.R. 2025. Evaluating protected area coverage for migratory bird species across space and time. Nature Communications 16 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57019-x)
Cook, A.S.C.P., Masden, E.A., Humphreys, E.M. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2025. Cumulative barriers to renewable energy development: can we adjust our perspective and approach to benefit biodiversity?. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 6 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1002/2688-8319.70010)
Kirkland, M., Annorbah, N.N.D., Barber, L., Black, J., Blackburn, J., Colley, M., Clewley, G., Cross, C., Drew, M., Fox, O.J.L., Gilson, V., Hahn, S., Holt, C., Hulme, M.F., Jarjou, J., Jatta, D., Jatta, E., Mensah-Pebi, E., Orsman, C., Sarr, N., Walsh, R., Zwartz, L., Fuller, R.J., Atkinson, P.W. & Hewson, C.M. 2025. Extreme migratory connectivity and mirroring of non-breeding grounds conditions in a severely declining breeding population of an Afro-Palearctic migratory bird. Scientific Reports 15 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86484-z)
Hereward, H.F.R., Brenchley, A., Facey, R.J., Hughes, J., Lindley, P.J., Taylor, R.C., Wilson, M.W. & Macgregor, C.J. 2025. Status and distribution of Rook Corvus frugilegus in Wales in 2022/23. Milvus 3 : 32-50 View Abstract
Macphie, K.H., Samplonius, J.M., Hadfield, J.D., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Phillimore, A.B. 2024. Tree taxon effects on the phenology of caterpillar abundance and biomass. Oikos Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/oik.10972)
Macgregor, C.J., Gillings, S., Balmer, D.E., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Harris, S.J., Hereward, H.F.R., Humphreys, E.M., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Taylor, R.C., Troost, G. & Atkinson, P.W. 2024. Impacts of highly pathogenic avian influenza on seabird populations in the North Sea are detectable in sea-watchers’ migration counts. Bird Study Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2024.2440826)
Hereward, H.F.R., Macgregor, C.J., Gabb, O., Connell, A., Thomas, R.J., Cross A.V. & Taylor, R.C. 2024. Modelling population‐level impacts of wind farm collision risk on Welsh Red Kites. Milvus 3 : 75-99 View Abstract
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. 2024. The Breeding Bird Survey of the United Kingdom. Global Ecology and Biogeography 34 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/geb.13943)
Rivers, E.M., Short, M.J., Page, A., Potts, P.M., Hodder, K., Hoodless, A., Robinson, R. & Stillman, R. 2024. Factors influencing nest site selection in a rapidly declining shorebird, the Eurasian curlew. Journal of Avian Biology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/jav.03286)
Lonero, I., Eddowes, M.J., Burgess, M.D., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Phillimore, A.B. 2024. Temperature sensitivity of breeding phenology and reproductive output of the Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus). Ibis Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13376)
Bateman, I.J., Binner, A. Addicott, E.T., Balmford, B., Cho F.H.T., Daily, G.C., De-Gol, A., Eisenbarth, S., Faccioli, M., Ferguson-Gow, H., Ferrini, S., Fezzi, C., Gannon, K., Groom, B., Harper, A.B., Harwood, A., Hillier, J., Hulme, M.F., Lee, C.F., Liuzzo, L., Lovett, A., Mancini, M.C., Matthews, R., Morison, J.I.L., Owen, N., Pearson, R.G., Polasky, S., Siriwardena, G., Smith, P., Snowdon, P.P., Tippett, P., Vetter, S.H., Vinjili, S., Vossler, C.A., Watson, R.T., Williamson, D. & Day, B.H. 2024. How to make land use policy decisions: Integrating science and economics to deliver connected climate, biodiversity, and food objectives. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407961121)
Goss-Custard, J.D., Austin, G.E., Frost, T.M., Sitters, H.P. & Stillman, R.A. 2024. Decline in the numbers of Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus on the Exe estuary Special Protection Area. Ardea 112 : 267-283 Link to Article (DOI: 10.5253/arde.2023.a23)
MacIsaac, J., Newson, S., Ashton-Butt, A., Pearce, H. & Milner, B. 2024. Improving acoustic species identification using data augmentation within a deep learning framework. Ecological Informatics 83 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102851)
Davies, J.G., Dytham, C., Robinson, R.A. & Beale, C.M. 2024. Estimating the distribution of reed Phragmites australis in Britain demonstrates challenges of remotely sensing rare habitat types at large spatial scales. Scientific Reports 14 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73030-6)
Kirkland, M., Atkinson, P.W., Aliácar, S., Saavedra, D., De Jong, M.C., Dowling, T.P.F. & Ashton-Butt, A. 2024. Protected areas, drought, and grazing regimes influence fire occurrence in a fire-prone Mediterranean region. Fire Ecology 30 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1186/s42408-024-00320-9)
Davies, J.G., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Clewley, G.D., Humphreys, E.M., O’Hanlon, N.J., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Thaxter, C.B., Weston, E. & Cook, A.S.C.P. 2024. Influence of wind on kittiwake Rissa tridactyla flight and offshore wind turbine collision risk. Marine Biology 171 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s00227-024-04508-0)
O’Hanlon, N.J., van Bemmelen, R.S.A., Conway, G.J., Thaxter, C.B., Aiton, H., Aiton, D., Balmer, D.E., Calladine, J.R., Harris, S.J. & Humphreys, E.M. 2024. New insights into the migration and wintering areas of Scottish-breeding Arctic Skuas. British Birds 117 : 488-497 View Abstract
Stanbury, A.J., Burns, F., Aebischer, N.J., Baker, H., Balmer, D., Brown, A.F., Dunn, T., Lindley, P., Murphy, M., Noble, D.G., Owens, R. & Quinn, L. 2024. The status of the UK’s breeding seabirds: an addendum to the fifth Birds of Conservation Concern in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and second IUCN Red List assessment of extinction risk for Great Britain. British Birds 117 : 471-487 View Abstract
Pickett, H.R.W., Robinson, R.A. & Nudds, R.L. 2024. Differential changes in the morphology and fuel loads of obligatory and partial migrant passerines over half a century in Britain. Movement Ecology 12 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00497-3)
Groh, C., Siriwardena, G.M. & McMahon, B.J. 2024. Diversity in Irish and British avifauna assemblages: What can variation in diversity profiles reveal about the forces that drive assemblage composition and structure?. Ecology and Evolution Link to Article (DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70143)
Bowler, D.E., Boyd, R.J., Callaghan, C.T., Robinson, R.A., Isaac, N.J.B. & Pocock, M.J.O. 2024. Treating gaps and biases in biodiversity data as a missing data problem. Biological Reviews Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/brv.13127)
Woodward, I.D., Thaxter, C.B., Owen, E., Bolton, M., Ward, R.M. & Cook, A.S.C.P. 2024. The value of seabird foraging ranges as a tool to investigate the impact of offshore wind farms. Ocean and Coastal Management 254 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107192)
Abraham, A., Doughty, C., Plummer, K. & Duvall, E. 2024. Supplementary bird feeding as an overlooked contribution to local phosphorus cycles.. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Heward, C.J., Conway, G.J., Hoodless, A.N., Norfolk, D. & Aebischer, N.J. 2024. Population and distribution change of Eurasian Woodcocks Scolopax rusticola breeding in the UK: results from the 2023 ‘Breeding Woodcock Survey’. Bird Study Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2024.2345272)
Russell, C., Franco, A., Atkinson, P., Väli, Ü. & Ashton-Butt, A. 2024. Active European warzone impacts raptor migration. Current Biology 35 : 2 272-2 277 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.047)
Border, J.A., Boersch-Supan, P., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Hewson, C., Howard, C., Stephens, P.A., Willis, S.G., Houston, A., Gargallo, G. & Baillie, S.R. 2024. Spatial variation in spring arrival patterns of Afro-Palearctic bird migration across Europe. Global Ecology and Biogeography Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/geb.13850)
Gardner, E., Robinson, R.A., Julian, A., Boughey, K., Langham, S., Tse-Leon, J., Petrovskii, S., Baker, D.J., Bellamy, C., Buxton, A., Franks, S., Monk, C., Morris, N., Park, K.J., Petrovan, S., Pitt, K., Taylor, R., Turner, R.K., Allain, S.J.R., Bradley, V., Broughton, R.K., Cartwright, M., Clarke, K., Cranfield, J., Fuentes-Montemayor, E., Gandola, R., Gent, T., Hinsley, S.A., Madsen, T., Reading, C., Redhead, J.W., Reveley, S., Wilkinson, J., Williams, C., Woodward, I., Baker, J., Briggs, P., Dyason, S., Langton, S., Mawby, A., Pywell, R.F. & Bullock, J.M. 2024. A family of process-based models to simulate landscape use by multiple taxa. Landscape Ecology View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s10980-024-01866-4)
Pirzio-Biroli, A., Crowley, S.L., Siriwardena, G.M., Plummer, K.E., Schroeder, J. & White, R.L. 2024. Not in the countryside please! Investigating UK residents’ perceptions of an introduced species, the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri). NeoBiota 93 : 1-24 Link to Article (DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.93.110122)
Boersch-Supan, P.H., Brighton, C.H., Thaxter, C.B. & Cook, A.S.C.P. 2024. Natural body size variation in seabirds provides a fundamental challenge for flight height determination by single-camera photgrammetry. A comment on Humphries et al. 2023. Marine Biology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s00227-024-04396-4)
Merondun, J., Marques, C.I., Andrade, P., Meshcheryagina, S., Galván, I., Afonso, S., Alves, J.M., Araújo, P.M., Bachurin, G., Balacco, J., Bán, M., Fedrigo, O., Formenti, G., Fossøy, F., Fülöp, A., Golovatin, M., Granja, S., Hewson, C., Honza, M., Howe, K., Larson, G., Marton, A., Moskát, C., Mountcastle, J., Procházka, P., Red’kin, Y., Sims, Y., Šulc, M., Tracey, A., Wood, J.M.D., Jarvis, E.D., Hauber, M.E., Carneiro, M. & Wolf, J.B.W. 2024. Evolution and genetic architecture of sex-limited polymorphism in cuckoos. Science Advances 10 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl5255)
Calladine, J., Southall, C., Wetherhill, A. & Morrison, N. 2024. Use of dwarf shrubland–grassland mosaics by a nomadic predatory bird, the Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus. Journal of Ornithology View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s10336-024-02174-z)
Brighton, C.H., Massimino, D., Boersch-Supan, P., Barnes, A.E., Martay, B., Bowler, D.E., Hoskins, H.M.J. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2024. The benefits of protected areas for bird population trends may depend on their condition. Biological Conservation 292 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110553)
van Bemmelen, R., Moe, B., Schekkerman, H., Hanssen, S.A., Snell, K., Humphreys, L., Mäntylä, E., Hallgrimsson, G.T., Gilg, O., Ehrich, D., Calladine, J., Hammer, S., Harris, S., Lang, J., Vignisson, S., Kolbeinsson, Y., Kimmo, N., Sillanpää, M., Sittler, B., Sokolov, A., Klaassen, R., Phillips, R. & Tulp, I. 2024. Synchronous timing of return to breeding sites in a long-distance migratory seabird with ocean-scale variation in migration schedules. Movement Ecology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00459-9)
Bonaldi, C., Vardanis, Y., Willemoes, M., Hewson, C.M., Atkinson, P.W., Nilsson, J-Å., Klaassen, R.H.G., Strandberg, R., Tøttrup, A.P., Howey, P.W., Alerstam, T. & Thorup, K. 2024. Fidelity and distance to previously visited sites throughout the annual cycle in a trans-Saharan migrant, the Common Cuckoo. Journal of Avian Biology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/jav.03183)
O'Hanlon, N.J., van Bemmelen, R.S.A., Snell, K.R.S., Conway, G.J, Thaxter, C.B., Aiton, H., Aiton, D., Balmer, D.E., Are Hanssen, S., Calladine, J.R., Hammer, S., Harris, S.J., Moe, B., Schekkerman, H., Tulp, I. & Humphreys, E.M. 2024. Atlantic populations of a declining oceanic seabird have complex migrations and weak migratory connectivity to staging areas. Marine Ecology Progress Series 730 : 113-129 Link to Article (DOI: 10.3354/meps14533)
Allain, S.J.R., Leech, D.I., Hopkins, K., Seilern-Moy, K., Rodriguez-Ramos Fernandez, J., Griffiths, R.A. & Lawson, B. 2024. Characterisation, prevalence and severity of skin lesions caused by ophidiomycosis in a population of wild snakes. Scientific Reports 14 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55354-5)
O’Hanlon, N.J., Thaxter, C.B., Clewley, G.D., Davies, J.G., Humphreys, E.M., Miller, P.I. Pollock, C.J., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Weston, E. & Cook, A.S.C.P. 2024. Challenges in quantifying the responses of Black-legged Kittiwake to habitat variables and local stressors due to individual variation. Bird Study Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2024.2305169)
Duffield, S.J., Morecroft, M.D., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Taylor, S.D. 2024. Species- or habitat- based assessments of vulnerability to climate change? Informing climate change adaptation in special protection areas for birds in England. Biological Conservation 291 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110460)
Robinson, R.A. 2024. Understanding population change: the value of the EuroCES constant-effort ringing programme. Ringing & Migration 38 : 18-28 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/03078698.2024.2311771)
Montràs-Janer, T., Suggitt, A.J., Fox, R., Jönsson, M., Martay, B., Roy, D.B., Walker, K.J. & Auffret, A.G. 2024. Anthropogenic climate and land-use change drive short-and long-term biodiversity shifts across taxa. Nature Ecology & Evolution Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02326-7)
Martín Vélez, V., Cano-Povedano, J., Cañuelo-Jurado, B., López-Calderón, C., Céspedes, V., Ros, M., Sánchez, M.I., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Müller, W., Thaxter, C.B., Camphuysen, C.J., Cózar & Green, A.J. 2024. Leakage of plastics and other debris from landfills to a highly protected lake by wintering gulls. Waste Management 177 : 13-23 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.01.034)
Cooper, J.E.J., Plummer, K.E., Middlebrook, I. & Siriwardena, G.M. 2024. Using butterfly survey data to model habitat associations in urban developments. Journal of Applied Ecology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14583)
Tirozzi, P., Massimino, D. & Bani, L. 2024. Avian responses to climate extremes: insights into abundance curves and species sensitivity using the UK Breeding Bird Survey. Oecologia 204 : 241-255 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05504-9)
Thaxter, C.B., Green, R.M.W., Collier, M.P., Taylor, R.C., Middelveld, R.P., Scragg, E.S., Wright, L.J., Cook, A.S.C.P. & Fijn, R.C. 2024. Behavioural responses of Sandwich terns following the construction of offshore wind farms. Marine Biology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s00227-023-04353-7)
Boersch-Supan, P.H., Hanmer, H.J. & Robinson, R.A. 2024. Extended moult phenology models improve inferences about moult duration and timing. Ornithology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1093/ornithology/ukae003)
Calladine, J., Hallgrimsson, G.T., Morrison, N., Southall, C., Gunnarsson, H., Jubete, F., Sergio, F. & Mougeot, F. 2024. Remote tracking unveils intercontinental movements of nomadic Short-eared Owls Asio flammeus with implications for resource tracking by irruptive specialist predators. Ibis View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13304)

Pages