BTO Research

Professional and Consultancy Services

ORNITHOLOGICAL SURVEYS

The BTO has considerable expertise in the design, implementation and analysis of a range of projects from intensive studies to extensive surveys.  It runs a number of national, annual surveys through its volunteer network to monitor the status of many of our bird species across a range of habitats.  Thus, the BTO possesses an unrivalled historical database of bird populations and distributions for the UK. 

Surveys are organised and the results analysed by a team of professional scientists based at the Trust’s headquarters in Thetford. This unique partnership between volunteers and professional staff makes our work extremely cost-effective for our funding agencies.

Where appropriate, highly skilled professional surveyors are used to undertake detailed applied survey work.

Some examples of surveys undertaken by the Trust include:

Ongoing Surveys

• BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey.  The scheme for monitoring breeding birds in the UK involves a nation-wide survey using transect methodology on stratified randomly selected 1 x 1km squares. Carried out on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
• WeBS Low Tide Counts. Monthly low tide counts of waders and wildfowl on a rolling programme of selected estuaries around Britain for the WeBS Partners (British Trust for Ornithology, The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Joint Nature Conservation Committee).

Current and Recent Special Surveys

• CS2000.  A survey of breeding birds on a large sample of the 1-km squares covered by Countryside Survey 2000 for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
• Canada Goose.  A survey of Canada Geese and assessment of the change in its population since 1991for Civil Aviation Authority. (Link to Naturalised Goose Survey)
• Lowland Grassland Farms.  A survey of bird usage of grassland on selected  lowland farms in England and Wales as part of a wider project assessing the effects of changes in lowland grassland management on invertebrates and birds for Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
• Winter Farmland Bird Survey.  An extensive winter bird survey being undertaken over three winters in partnership with Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
• Waterways Breeding Bird Survey.  A BBS-style survey of breeding birds along randomly selected stretches of waterways for Environment Agency.
• Project Barn Owl.  A survey undertaken in collaboration with Hawk and Owl Trust to provide a baseline population estimate of Barn Owls in Britain sponsored by a consortium of agrochemical companies.

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