Press releases
Volunteer efforts yield new insights into Britain and Ireland's birds
April 2019
The efforts of 60,000 volunteers, mapping the distribution of breeding and wintering birds, have opened up valuable knowledge to researchers and members of the public through new open access resources...
Leading scientists call for UK funding body to recognise high impact of conservation research
February 2019
In a letter to Nature published this week, leading scientists from BirdLife International, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) suggest that the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Government body that funds biodiversity research in the UK, should direct greater resources to NGOs and charities...
Edinburgh primary school children receive award for citizen science.
February 2019
Pupils at Broughton Primary School have been recognized by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and EDF Energy for their contribution to What’s Under Your Feet?, a national citizen science project...
Thetford postcode with a winning view
February 2019
The British Trust for Ornithology officially opened a public viewing platform on its Nunnery Lakes nature reserve this week...
Britain needs more holes
February 2019
As part of National Nest Box Week 2019, which kicks off on 14 February, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is calling for homeowners to put up more nest boxes for declining garden birds like House Sparrow and Starling...
Collaborative project aims to shed new light on breeding waders in the east Cairngorms
January 2019
Gathering data on breeding waders in upland areas of Scotland presents significant challenges...
Britain's owls need twenty minutes
January 2019
Twenty minutes once during your week is all it will take to find out just how Britain’s Tawny Owls are faring...
Sparrows thriving in Scotland
November 2018
The latest report from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) shows that the House Sparrow is doing very well in Scotland...
British public asked to listen out for owls
September 2018
EMBARGOED 00:01 Friday 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 The British Trust for Ornithology is asking the great British public to participate in a national study of Tawny Owls and their calling behaviour, by listening out for them this autumn and winter...
Bird Photographer of the Year 2018 winners announced
August 2018
Having completed its third year, Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) is pleased to announce the 2018 winners of this prestigious global competition...
Bird Surveyors help to shed new light on changing mammal populations
August 2018
The UK’s mammals present particular challenges for monitoring; they live in a wide variety of habitats, vary enormously in size and can be very difficult to see, but Britain’s army of volunteer bird surveyors could come to the rescue...
Thomas and Sylvester's grand Cuckoo migration
July 2018
After being tagged in Thetford Forest by The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), two adult male Cuckoos (Sylvester and Thomas) have begun their long journey south...
Bowie joins the Cuckoo class of 2018
July 2018
As part of its hugely successful Cuckoo project the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has just launched 10 new birds, bringing the number of Cuckoos that are currently being tracked to 14; one of which has been named Bowie by wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham...
Threatened Nightingale site confirmed as Britain's best in new national survey
June 2018
The dramatic decline of UK Nightingale populations – we have lost over 90% of these iconic birds in the last 50 years – has led to the species being placed on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List...
Waterbird survey celebrates platinum anniversary
May 2018
The BTO/RSPB/JNCC Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), one of the longest running citizen science surveys in the world, is celebrating its 70th anniversary...
Calling all young birders
May 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE USE Spurn Bird Observatory and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) will again be running the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder of The Year as part of this year’s Spurn Migration Festival (Migfest)...
Finches up and down in Northern Ireland
April 2018
The latest Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) report shows mixed fortunes for finches in Northern Ireland...
Welsh icon is back
April 2018
Synonymous with Wales, the latest results from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) show that the Red Kite is well and truly back and here to stay...
Declining summer visitor doing well in Scotland
April 2018
In England the Spotted Flycatcher population has fallen by 18%, however, the latest results show that this enchanting little bird is on the up in Scotland – up by 66% during the last five years, giving Scotland something to shout about! Reasons behind the overall decline, which amounts to 39% across the whole of the UK since 1994 are unclear...
A northern powerhouse for UK songbirds
April 2018
The latest survey results show that Spotted Flycatchers and Willow Warblers are thriving north of the England-Scotland border, whilst struggling south of it...
BTO Heronries Census - 90 not out
March 2018
2018 marks the 90th anniversary for BTO’s longest running survey, which has been carried out annually since 1928, and represents, as far as anyone is aware, the longest running dataset for any breeding bird in the world...
Feed the birds? Scientists highlight risks of disease at garden bird feeders
March 2018
Collaborative 25-year ZSL/BTO study stresses importance of feeding while investigating evolving threats to wild birds Wild birds are at risk of a number of serious diseases at our garden bird feeders, according to a collaborative study led by scientists from international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B...
Nationwide school science programme helps scientists discover effects of climate change on soils
March 2018
15,000 school children participate in ‘What’s under your feet?’ project to study soil in school grounds Research from ongoing study makes link for the first time that dry summers are affecting breeding birds, which rely on earthworms and other soil invertebrates for food Number of UK earthworms has declined massively during periods of dry weather Schools encouraged to participate in further digs this month and later in the year to further aid research This ongoing study, supported by EDF Energy and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), has been able to identify that dry summer weather may be putting some of our favourite bird species at risk as it triggers a significant drop in the number of earthworms and invertebrates in parts of the UK...
New wildlife guides to grow interest in the Brecks
March 2018
The first two books in a new series of guides to the wildlife of the East Anglian Brecks have just been published, thanks to the efforts of local conservation charities...
World's fastest bird making a comeback
March 2018
The latest population estimate, just published, shows that the breeding numbers of Peregrine Falcon in the UK have hit a historic high, with particularly large increases in England...
National Nest Box Week 2018
January 2018
Valentine’s Day 2018 will see the start of the 21st annual National Nest Box Week (NNBW), in which people across Britain are encouraged to put up a nest box and provide a family home for our birds...
Summer is winging its way towards Britain
January 2018
We can see summer coming from over 4,000 miles away as the first of BTO’s satellite-tracked Cuckoos begins to head north...
Britain's birds - winners and losers
December 2017
The 20th annual BirdTrends report from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), just published, gives the latest information on the winners and losers in the British countryside...
Biggest-ever influx of one of our smallest garden birds
December 2017
This November, Coal Tits were seen in over 70% of gardens, according to figures from the British Trust for Ornithology's (BTO) Garden BirdWatch (GBW)...
