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Research Services
AVAILABILITY OF DATA
BTO is widely respected for
its independence and sound science, consequently our survey results
are frequently used by conservation groups, government agencies, planners,
ecologists, industrialists, environmental consultants and scientific
researchers. The BTO encourages the use of its data.
The BTO operates a Data Request Service, for further
details of this service contact datarequests@bto.org
Information on our surveys
and the type of data that are available are given below:
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New Atlas of
Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991
Most 10-km squares in the UK were covered by the survey, and at
least eight tetrads were covered in each square. Summary lists detailing
which species definitely bred and which possibly bred in each 10-km
square are available. Similar data at the tetrad level are available
but these also list the number of pairs recorded for each species
in each tetrad and for the 10-km square as a whole. The data are only
fully comprehensive at the 10-km square level and not at the tetrad
level.
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Common Birds Census:
1961 onwards
Data are available on a site or species basis. For each site,
annual summary sheets can be supplied providing a list of the species
recorded and numbers of territories for each survey year. There are
corresponding habitat folders for each plot containing site maps and
vegetation details which can be consulted at the BTO. For each species,
indices of population change are available.
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BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding
Bird Survey: 1994 onwards
This survey monitors the breeding birds of 2,000 randomly selected
1-km squares throughout the UK. Species lists and an estimation of
population size are available for each of these squares.
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Wetland
Bird Survey: 1965 onwards
Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Core Count and Low Tide Count Data
are available from the BTO's WeBS Office. WeBS aims to provide a
scientific basis for the conservation of waterbird populations with
the key objectives being to estimate UK population sizes, monitor
trends in numbers and distribution, and identify nationally and
internationally important sites. Core Counts are conducted at a
wide variety of wetlands throughout the UK, both coastal and inland.
Around 2,500 sites are covered annually. Counts are made once monthly,
normally on pre-selected dates, concentrating on the winter period,
although counts from all months are available for some sites. Counts
on estuaries are usually made at high tide when birds are most easily
counted at roosts. Low Tide Counts are conducted at most large estuaries
in at least one winter every six years, with up to four counts being
made through the period November - February. The exposed substrate
at low tide is divided into small count areas (sectors) enabling
the distribution of feeding and roosting birds to be determined
in fine detail. WeBS is a joint scheme of the British Trust for
Ornithology, The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds and Joint Nature Conservation Committee
(the last on behalf of the Countryside Council for Wales, Department
of the Environment Northern Ireland, English Nature and Scottish
Natural Heritage).
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Heronries Census: 1928 onwards
Over 75% of UK heronries are visited each year and the number
of occupied nests is recorded. Nest counts are available for each
year that the colony was visited.
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Ornithological Sites Register: late ‘60s/early
‘70s and 1985/86
A wide variety of sites were visited in all seasons and details
of habitat features and ornithological interest were recorded. A
selection of these sites were re-visited during 1985/86 to note any
changes in the habitat or bird species present. This resulted in
the 'Review of Site Changes 1985/86' dataset. OSR provides useful
background information for sites of ornithological interest and copies
of the original survey cards are available.
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Ringing recoveries:
1909 onwards
The BTO, with support from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee,
operates a nationwide ringing scheme involving specially trained volunteers.
Subsequent reports (recoveries) of ringed birds are recorded by the
BTO. Data are available on bird movements to and from a specific site
and in some cases more specialised information e.g. moult record cards
are also obtainable.
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Nest Record Scheme:
1939 onwards
This scheme records the breeding success rates of many species
of British breeding birds. Data are available on clutch size, brood
size etc.
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Single Species and
Special Surveys
In addition to the above surveys and sources of data, BTO has data
available from its large number of single species and special surveys.
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© British Trust for Ornithology
BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU
Tel: +44 (0)1842 750050 Fax: +44 (0)1842 750030 Email: info@bto.org
Registered Charity Number 216652. This page last updated:
27 February, 2006
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