Reports

Reports

BTO publishes various reports, from those covering the annual results of core surveys, through scientific studies, and on to those produced in partnership with other organisations. Many of these are published as BTO Research Reports, which includes BBS reports, Waterbirds in the UK (WeBS) reports and SMP reports. You can access all of our reports from here, though note that we are currently updating the reports section, working backwards through time to bring all of the report pages into a consistent format. You can read our Annual Report and Accounts in the Governance section.

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Designing effective survey and sampling protocols for passive acoustic monitoring as part of the national bat monitoring

Author: Newson, S.E., Boughey, K.L., Robinson, R.A & Gillings, S.

Published: 2021

The UK has one of the best developed bat monitoring programmes in the world, but despite this, six of 17 resident bat species in the UK are not currently monitored sufficiently to produce population trends. Large-scale deployment of passive acoustic methods using full spectrum bat detector technology offers a lot of potential for transforming routine monitoring of bat numbers, but it is essential that effective survey and sampling protocols are used if this potential is to be realised.

11.06.21

Reports

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The Breeding Bird Survey 2020

Author: Harris, S.J., Massimino, D., Balmer, D.E., Eaton, M.A., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Woodcock, P. & Gillings, S.

Published: 2021

Despite limited 2020 data due to COVID-19 restrictions, the latest BTO/RSPB/JNCC Breeding Bird Survey report reveals interesting trends.

13.05.21

Reports BBS Report

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Waterbirds in the UK 2019/20

Author: Frost, T.M., Calbrade, N.A., Birtles, G.A., Hall, C., Robinson, A.E., Wotton, S.R., Balmer, D.E. and Austin, G.E.

Published: 2021

Waterbirds in the UK presents the results of the annual Wetland Bird Survey Report. It provides a single, comprehensive source of information on the current status and distribution of waterbirds in the UK for those interested in the conservation of the populations of these species and the wetland sites they use.

15.04.21

Reports Waterbirds in the UK

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Northern Ireland Seabird Report 2020

Author: Booth Jones, K.

Published: 2021

Volunteer-led monitoring of seabirds was severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, but surveys were able to be carried out by the National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Tern colonies around Northern Ireland had a catastrophic year. Despite this, many seabirds, such as Guillemots, had a good breeding season. These surveys revealed that tern colonies around Northern Ireland had a catastrophic year, with Sandwich and Common Terns experiencing some of their lowest numbers since records began. However, despite declines in terns, many seabirds had a good breeding season. 2020 was a record year for Guillemots on Muck Island, with Ulster Wildlife recording 3,107 individuals present at the colony last summer, the highest number counted since the first record in 1987. Despite Black-legged Kittiwake populations experiencing a long-term decline in the UK as a whole, in Northern Ireland the decline is at a much slower rate, with some colonies actually showing an increase. In particular, Kittiwakes are going from strength to strength in south Co. Down, with volunteer-monitored colony there increasing in each year since 2015 (from 483 pairs to 717 pairs). Also in Co. Down, lucky volunteers were able to follow the breeding success of a colony of 22 pairs of Black Guillemots as they raised 11 young birds opposite their house during the lockdown. These good news stories for Northern Irish seabirds are only possible to report due to the dedicated efforts of our Seabird Network volunteers year after year. However, each year there are still sites that do not regularly receive any counts — can you help survey Northern Irish seabirds?

18.03.21

Reports Northern Ireland Seabird Report

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BirdTrends 2020

Author: Woodward, I.D., Massimino, D., Hammond, M.J., Barber, L., Barimore, C., Harris, S.J., Leech, D.I., Noble, D.G., Walker, R.H., Baillie, S.R. & Robinson, R.A.

Published: 2021

The BirdTrends 2020 report is a one-stop shop for authoritative information about the population status of the common breeding birds of the wider UK countryside. The report is based on data gathered by the many thousands of volunteers who contribute to BTO-led surveys.

03.03.21

Reports BirdTrends

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