Cookies are small pieces of text that are stored on your computer that allow the BTO to recognise who you are. They are only used to store your BTO username and password in your web browser (e.g. Chrome, Edge, Safari). If enabled on your computer, cookies make it quicker and easier for you to participate in our surveys because you won't have to log in to each individual survey app or MyBTO. You will be able to log in once and then switch between different surveys and MyBTO without haing to log in and out of each one.

Anyone who wishes to take part in our online-only projects and surveys must first create a MyBTO account. It's quick, easy and free. Select a unique username, strong password and provide some contact information* which we use for the purposes of managing your account and adminstrating surveys. 

After you have created a MyBTO account you can then register for the surveys you are interested in; the requirements and criteria for participation may vary for each survey and project but you can find out more about each project or survey on its own web page. Creating a MyBTO account does not mean you become a member of BTO; you can join BTO as well if you wish to support us in that way too.

You can also find your local regional representative and manage your communication preferences inside your MyBTO account e.g. subscriptions to magazines like Bird Table, BTO News and LifeCycle along with your BTO membership. 

*We don't sell your contact information to third parties or send you marketing information you have not requested. 

Your email address is an essential part of your MyBTO account credentials and helps keep your account secure. We email all our survey participants regularly with updates about our existing projects and new surveys they might be interested in. The email address also allows us to correspond with you and support you quickly and easily e.g. if you experience issues logging in to your account.

You can update or correct the email address from within whichever survey app you are using. You can also update your email address, name and contact details in your MyBTO account and the changes will be reflected in the survey app as well.

Not necessarily, although this is usually the case. Some surveys may still allow data collection on paper, but increasingly you will find online data entry to be the default means of participating in BTO surveys. Using apps to collect and send us data is much quicker and easier, generally speaking, than recording and sending us paper records. It saves you money too and us the time and cost of having to transfer the records from paper to our database, where all our data ends up.

It depends which survey you'd like to take part it. Many of our surveys are ideal for beginners—surveys like Garden BirdWatch or Blackbirds in Gardens for example don't require expert knowledge and can be done from the comfort of your own garden.

We run bird identification training courses throughout the year to help people who are new to birdwatching develop their knowledge, skill and confidence at birdwatching. These training courses are usually held online so you don't need to travel to Thetford (UK) to take advantage of them. Concessions may also be available on some courses to help people with low incomes participate. 

We also have an extensive set of bird ID videos that can help you learn to identify birds and distinguish between “confusion species”.

Whichever survey you decide to get involved with, the golden rule is “if in doubt, leave it out”.

Please only record the species that you can confidently identify.

We run bird identification training courses throughout the year to help people who are new to birdwatching develop their knowledge, skill and confidence at birdwatching. These training courses are usually held online so you don't need to travel to Thetford (UK) to take advantage of them. Concessions may also be available on some courses to help people with low incomes participate. 

We also have an extensive set of bird ID videos that can help you learn to identify birds and distinguish between “confusion species”.

BirdTrack is one of our most popular surveys to get involved with so we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions and divided them into three categories: For beginners, Using BirdTrack and Troubleshooting.