The BTO provides grants of up to £500 to support ornithological research projects by BTO members and holders of BTO ringing permits.
Project eligibility
We welcome applications relating to projects on all aspects of field ornithology, with preference for those most relevant to BTO’s core research activities. Priority will be given to well-designed research projects that are likely to produce publishable results. Support may also be provided for expeditions and other data-gathering activities that will contribute to major long-term or large-scale datasets held by the BTO.
Applications may be for projects lasting up to three years. We are happy to consider applications for the continuation of projects that have received support previously. Such applications should explain the benefits of continuing the project for a further period and what additional findings are likely to be produced.
Whether or not a project has been supported previously will not influence the success or failure of subsequent applications, since what is awarded in a particular round of applications depends largely on the level of competition in that round.
- Funding is not provided for food, accommodation, educational fees or for workshops.
Location
Preference is given to work in Britain, Ireland and other parts of the Afro-Palaearctic flyway; work elsewhere may be supported, but only if it involves species that migrate to Britain and Ireland or if it is otherwise relevant to British and Irish ornithology. Ethical criteria will be taken into account in judging whether a grant will be made.
Applicants and collaborators
Our priority is to support work by amateurs, but we encourage collaboration with professionals, including BTO staff. The lead applicant should normally be an amateur, but applications incorporating professional co-applicants who have undertaken to assist with study design and analysis are encouraged. BTO staff are not eligible to be lead applicants, but they may be co-applicants.
Applications by professionals are given lower priority unless the work is carried out as a spare-time activity or involves substantial participation by volunteers. If you are a professional, you must complete the additional questions on the application form concerning the extent of any linkages between the project and work undertaken as part of your job.
Student projects
Student projects are unlikely to be funded under the BTO Research Grant scheme, but the committee may exceptionally award grants to projects that are inadequately supported from educational sources.
- If the project is to be used in part fulfilment of the requirements for a degree or similar professional qualification, you should state that under point 10 of the application form and explain why your university, college or funding body is not covering the costs.
Grantee requirements
All grantees are required to submit a report of the work undertaken in electronic format.
- Reports presented in the form of draft or published manuscripts are encouraged.
- Reports must be submitted within six months of the end of the project period for which support has been provided.
Further details of requirements concerning the timing and general content of reports will be given to successful applicants.
Published papers, reports to other organisations and any other outputs should include an acknowledgement of the support from BTO. Other specific conditions may be included in the award letter.
Example projects
Detailed below are just some of the projects that BTO Research Grants have helped to fund in recent years:
- Monitoring feeding patterns of Common Redstarts in natural nest sites using trail cameras
- Effects of extreme weather events on the breeding productivity of blue tits and great tits
- Investigating habitat and landscape associations of wintering woodcock in the contemporary agricultural landscape using thermal imaging from small-unmanned aerial vehicles
- Monitoring the breeding success of Willow Tits
- The use of isotypes in identifying provenance of eastern winter Phylloscopus warblers in west Cornwall
Applications
Applications are considered annually with a closing date of 15 December, by a committee comprising the Chair of the Ringing Committee, a scientist from BTO Board, and two members of staff appointed by the Directors of Science.
Current members of the Committee are Dr Stuart Newson (Convenor), Dawn Balmer, Stuart Bearhop and Lucy Wright.
How to apply
Please complete the application form. This should be no longer than four sides of A4 paper. You may submit further supporting documents, but these will not necessarily be circulated to the committee.
- Applications are considered annually with a closing date of 15 December.
Applications should normally be submitted by email to stuart.newson@bto.org (Stuart Newson).
Alternatively, you may submit your application by post to Stuart Newson, BTO Research Grants, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, IP24 2PU.
Help and advice
If you wish to discuss your plans, or how to word your application, with a member of the BTO staff, please contact the appropriate staff member well in advance of the closing date.
If you need advice but are unsure who to ask, please contact stuart.newson@bto.org (Stuart Newson) in the first instance.
August 2025