Welcome to the BTO

Looking out for birds? Share your interest in birds with others by being part of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Volunteer surveyors, members and staff work in partnership to provide unbiased information about birds and their habitats. Join or volunteer today and make birds count.

Tickets now on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the sixth annual Spurn Migration Festival, celebrating the great bird migration spectacle that passes through Spurn in East Yorkshire. The Festival runs from 7-9 September 2018. Tickets can obtained from the Migfest website.

Are you seeing Bullfinches in your garden?

Records from approximately 11,000 BTO Garden BirdWatchers indicate that Bullfinches are being seen in more gardens than ever this year! Bullfinches were seen by 19% of Garden BirdWatchers in April 2018, which is almost double the average (1995-2017) for this month. These figures follow on from a record high last winter, after a successful breeding season. Our Annual Results for 2017 show a 16% increase in the percentage of gardens reporting them compared to 2016. See the full Garden BirdWatch Annual Results.

Spotted Flycatcher. Photograph by John Harding

A northern powerhouse

The latest Breeding Bird Survey report, which has just been published, shows a 66% increase for Spotted Flycatcher during 2011–2016 and a 21% upturn for Willow Warbler in Scotland over the last 23 years. In England, both of these birds are in trouble. Read the full 2017 BBS report to find out more.

Three tagged Cuckoos back in the UK

We now have three of our satellite tagged Cuckoos back. Selborne in the New Forest, Hampshire and PJ and Victor in King's Forest, Suffolk. We are still waiting for Larry and Peckham. Follow the journey of our Cuckoos.

Other recent news

Spring Raffle winning numbers

BTO Heronries Census - 90 not out.

Feed the birds? Scientists highlight risks of disease at garden bird feeders