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The BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey

The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common breeding birds. 
 
Small Copper by Dean Morley 
Survey butterflies on your BBS square

The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey, run in partnership with Butterfly Conservation, aims to monitor butterflies in the same way that the BBS monitors birds. If you survey a BBS square you can help by re-visiting your square between June and August to count butterflies. Download the results from the 2011 survey, or find out more about taking part.
   

Whitethroat by Amy Lewis 

Will 2012 be another good year for Whitethroats?

Taking part in the BBS

Thousands of volunteer birdwatchers make standardised counts on randomly-located sites during the breeding season, enabling us to monitor changes in numbers of over 100 widespread bird species. BBS bird population trends are widely used for bird research and conservation. Taking part is easy – just visit a local 1-km square twice during the breeding season, and record all birds you see or hear. Find out more about taking on a BBS square.