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Our blog offers specialist insight and unique perspective from a wide range of BTO staff, volunteers and guest writers, giving context and inviting discussion on various aspects of our work. It includes:

A series of important posts by BTO Youth.
Updates on how the latest tagged cuckoos are faring as they migrate to and from Africa.
How our latest strategy plays a crucial role in tackling the twin biodiversity and climate crises.
Reflections on our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusivity.

Blogs on specific topics

Demography Blog

The Demog blog covers all things realting to the study of the characteristics of populations, such as size, growth, density, distribution, and vital statistics.

BirdTrack Migration Blog

During the months when migration is at its peak, the migblog will predict which species you may see in the coming week and where best to look for migrant birds.

BTO Youth Blog

The Youth blog gives a voice to the young people we work and engage with across the UK, covering programmes of work, events, opinion pieces and interviews.

A blog for World Wetlands Day 2024, on 2 February.

World Wetlands Day blog authors

Featured blog post

The value of wetlands for our mental health

02 Feb 2024

With so many stories about the climate and biodiversity crises, immersing ourselves in nature gives us a sense of optimism and hope, and helps us to continue our work to help secure the future of birds in the UK.

Blog Series

Cuckoo.

BirdTrack migration blog (28 April–4 May)

As expected, the mixed bag of weather over the last week resulted in a trickle rather than a flow of birds arriving.

28 Apr 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (21–27 April)

A week of sunshine, rain and blustery easterly winds kept the pace of migration relatively slow given the time of year.

21 Apr 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (7–13 April)

During the last week, spring migration has stepped up a gear with species such as Nightingale, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, and Cuckoo making their first appearance of 2023.

06 Apr 2023

Gannets and Herring Gulls foraging at sea.

Finding food: deciphering the foraging ‘fingerprints’ of Gannets

Chris Pollock explains how studying the unique movements and behaviours of individual Gannets can help us to understand the impact of environmental change on their populations.

05 Apr 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (31 March–6 April)

A change in wind direction over the past week coupled with some prolonged and often heavy bursts of rain slowed migration – but some birds still made it through.

30 Mar 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (24–30 March)

Spring has certainly sprung in the last week, as summer migrants have taken advantage of warmer weather with a funnel of south-westerlies aiding their arrival.

24 Mar 2023

Great Crested Grebes on nest, Sarah Kelman

Amazing nesters: a journey through the bird breeding season

Bird breeding behaviours to watch out for this spring, and how to get started with nest monitoring.

16 Mar 2023

View with the sea stacks Drangarnir in the distance, Lesley Hindley

Ken Williamson's Faroe Islands Diaries: From Thetford to Tórshavn (and back)

BTO Archivist Lesley Hindley on her travels to the Faroe Islands to digitise the wartime diaries of Kenneth Williamson.

10 Mar 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (Mid-February — Mid-March)

With the songs of Great Tit, Song Thrush and Dunnock starting to fill the air, it feels like spring is just around the corner.

24 Feb 2023

Fionnuala McCully

Finding my place(ment): taking a break from a PhD

PhD student Fionnuala McCully reflects on her placement with the BTO Communications Team, and the benefits she experienced while stepping back from her studies.

25 Jan 2023

Curlew. Annie Shadrake

My BTO volunteering journey: surveying breeding waders in the Yorkshire Dales

Volunteer Annie Shadrake writes about her first year taking part in BTO surveys.

17 Jan 2023

BirdTrack migration blog (mid January–mid February)

With everything from arctic blasts to torrential rain, this winter has certainly been a testing time for birds visiting Britain and Ireland.

13 Jan 2023

Smew. Sarah Kelman / BTO

BirdTrack migration blog (mid-December - mid-January)

With plummeting temperatures across Britain and Ireland, there is little doubt that winter has arrived - and although the main migration periods are over for this year, the recent icy conditions have resulted in some cold weather movement.

14 Dec 2022

Mistle Thrush. Edmund Fellowes / BTO

Garden birds in winter

Discover how birds survive in the cold, which thrushes might visit your garden in an icy spell, and how you can help your garden birds when the weather turns.

12 Dec 2022

Whooper Swan. Sarah Kelman / BTO

Scotland’s winter visitors: why and how do they migrate?

From geese and swans to thrushes and warblers, discover the secrets of our winter birds' migration.

22 Nov 2022

BirdTrack migration blog (November–December)

With November upon us, the focus for many birdwatchers shifts away from autumn migration and towards winter birding.

04 Nov 2022

The southern shores of Lough Neagh, Oxford Island. Sorrel Lyall

Introducing Ripple NI: BTO’s community-based engagement project

From young birder, ringer and Youth Advisory Panel member to BTO Project Officer, Sorrel Lyall’s journey into conservation takes her to Northern Ireland.

02 Nov 2022

BirdTrack migration blog (28th October - 3rd November)

As the nights draw in and trees take on the colours of autumn, the pace of migration slows and fewer species are on the move. Late October is still a great time to look for migrant birds, however, and for some species, this is the prime time of year to see them.

26 Oct 2022

Youth in Nature Summit

Why we built the Youth in Nature Summit

BTO Youth discuss the environmental sector's failure to consistently engage with young people, and set out their goals for the first ever BTO Youth in Nature Summit.

25 Oct 2022

Fieldfare. Liz Cutting / BTO

BirdTrack migration blog (21st-27th October)

With a switch to easterly winds, a flood of migrants was seen along the East coast, much to the delight of those able to get out and witness it.

20 Oct 2022

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Related content

BirdTrack migration blog (end of October to mid November)

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BTO Data Reports

Our reports provide rigorous scientific information to inform Environmental Impact Assessments in the UK.

Paper call for special HPAI issue

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