• Please also refer to the broader BTO Code of Conduct when interacting, volunteering or working with us e.g. on a survey, and to the nest recording Code of Conduct for participation in the Nest Record Scheme.

The interests of the birds come first

As with any outdoor pursuit, birding can cause disturbance to birds, their habitats and other wildlife. 

If birds are disturbed during the breeding season, they may keep away from their nests, leaving chicks hungry or enabling predators to take their eggs or young. During cold weather, or when migrants have just made a long flight, repeatedly disturbing birds can mean they use up the vital energy that they need for feeding and recovering. 

• Intentionally or recklessly disturbing some birds at or near their nest is illegal in Britain.

Whether you are a birder, a photographer, a bird ringer or a sound recorder, remember to put the interests of the birds first and avoid disturbance by following these guidelines.

Avoid disturbing birds

Birds react to people in many ways, depending on the species, location and time of year. Learn to recognise alarm calls and behaviour so you can respond accordingly. 

If a bird flies away or makes repeated alarm calls, you’re too close. If it leaves, you won’t get a good view of it anyway! Remember that some species are more sensitive than others. You might disturb a bird even if you are not very close – for example, a flock of wading birds on the foreshore can be disturbed from hundreds of metres away if you stand on the seawall.

Stay on roads and paths where they exist

This will avoid disturbing the habitat used by the birds, as well as other wildlife. Birds nest and build territories at a suitable distance from busy paths and tracks, so going ‘off-piste’ may significantly increase disturbance.

Never use playback during the breeding season

Do not use recordings of songs and calls to attract a species during its breeding season.

Repeatedly playing a recording of bird song or calls to encourage a bird to respond can cause a territorial bird to expend valuable energy defending against the ‘intruder’, and divert from other important duties, such as feeding its young. For some species, using playback during the breeding season can be a criminal offence.

Be mindful of the ’crowd effect’

These guidelines are relevant whenever you are birding, but it is especially important to follow them at sites where large groups of spectators are likely to gather over an extended period of time.  Be mindful of this ’crowd effect’ and the cumulative disturbance generated by, for example, lots of normal-volume conservation, phone ringtones, etc, and try to minimise your contribution.

Be an ambassador for birding

Think about your fieldcraft and behaviour, not just so that you can enjoy your birding, but so others can too.

Many people still face substantial barriers to birding. At BTO, we believe it is everybody's responsibility to make birding more inclusive. 

• Be welcoming, kind and courteous to others while birding, regardless of their birding experience and background.
• Optics, guides and specialist knowledge do not make a birder; the common ground shared by all birders is finding enjoyment and meaning in engaging with birds.
• Accept and validate other birders' experiences with inclusion and exclusion, even if they are different from your own, and research how to be an ally.

Respect and follow land access rules, rights and laws

Irresponsible behaviour may cause a land manager to deny access to others, including those who need to undertake important bird survey work. It may also disturb the bird or give birding bad coverage in the media. Respect the wishes of local residents and landowners and don’t enter private land without permission, unless it is open for public access on foot.

Legislation provides access for walkers to open country in the UK, and includes measures to protect wildlife. The rules and codes are different in each part of Britain, so plan ahead to make sure you follow the codes on access and the countryside for the place you’re visiting.

• Our guidance for volunteers and surveyors includes more details about access permission in relation to BTO projects. 

Finding and watching rare birds

One of the joys of birding is sharing the experiences with others. With social media and bird forums, it’s possible to share your sightings instantly. However, it’s important to consider the potential impact of spreading the news.

What to do if you find a rare bird

Many rare birds found in the UK are migrants exhausted by a long journey, and are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of disturbance. Enjoy the excitement of finding or watching an unusual species while following these guidelines. Additional considerations apply if you find a rare breeding species.

Rare breeding birds 

All birds are protected in some form, but some species have additional protection during the breeding season. These are known as Schedule 1 species. Unless you have a specific licence or permit, it is an offence to approach the active nest of a Schedule 1 species or to approach a Schedule 1 adult bird with dependent young.

Sadly, some rare breeding birds are still at risk from egg collectors and persecution, and most will be particularly susceptible to disturbance. The Rare Breeding Bird Panel (RBBP) strongly advise against publicising the location of rare breeding birds unless the bird is breeding at a public and well-protected area such as a wardened nature reserve.

If you discover a rare breeding species, you should still report your sighting to the county bird recorder.

• Visit the RBBP guidance on finding rare breeding birds for more information.

‘Twitching’ rare birds

The term ‘twitching’ refers to the pursuit and observation of rare birds which have already been reported by other birders. If you have the opportunity to see a rare bird, enjoy it, but don’t let your enthusiasm override common sense. In addition to the guidelines above:

These guidelines are relevant whether you are twitching or birding more generally, but it is especially important to follow them at a twitching site: 

• Large groups of spectators are likely to gather over an extended period of time. Be mindful of this ’crowd effect’ and the cumulative disturbance generated by, for example, lots of normal-volume conservation, phone ringtones, etc.
• Many ’twitched’ birds are exhausted long-distance migrants, and need time to feed and recover with minimal disturbance.

Birds and the law

Laws protecting birds and their habitats are the result of hard campaigning by generations of birders. We mustn’t undermine this valuable work by tolerating disregard for these laws.

Schedule 1 species 

It is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb, at or near the nest, any species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Disturbance can include the playback of songs and calls. In Scotland, disturbing leks of Capercaillie or Ruff is also an offence.

• With a successful prosecution, the courts can impose fines of up to £5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months for each offence.

The Government can, for particular reasons such as scientific study, issue licences to individuals that permit limited disturbance, including monitoring of nests and ringing.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

It is a criminal offence to destroy or damage, intentionally or recklessly, a special interest feature of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or to disturb the wildlife for which the site was notified. 

• In Scotland, the maximum fine on summary conviction is £40,000, or an unlimited fine on conviction or indictment.
• In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a fine of up to £20,000 may be imposed by a Magistrates’ Court, or an unlimited fine by a Crown Court.

If you witness anyone who you suspect may be illegally disturbing or destroying wildlife or habitat, phone the police immediately and report it to the RSPB. The RSPB has published detailed guidance on how to report wildlife crime. 

Make your sightings count

You don't need to take part in structured bird surveys to contribute valuable information to research and conservation. All your observations provide a valuable record which contributes to our understanding of bird breeding, distribution and movements. 

Important note about auto-ID tools

We recognise the growing popularity of auto-ID tools that use audio or image inputs to provide species identification, but we currently ask volunteers not to solely rely on these tools when submitting data to us.

Please read our full statement on the use of auto-ID tools for more detail and clarity.

Acknowledgements

The content on this page is adapted from the RSPB publication The Birdwatchers’ Code, which was produced by a partnership of the following organisations: