BTO - British Trust for Ornithology - UK

The State of the UK's Birds 2020

WSKELLORN — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 13:35:42 +0000

The Cuckoo cohort of 2024 takes flight!

Burns, F., Eaton, M.A., Balmer, D.E., Banks, A., Caldow, R., Donelan, J.L., Douse, A., Duigan, C., Foster, S., Frost, T., Grice, P.V., Hall, C., Hanmer, H.J., Harris, S.J., Johnstone, I., Lindley, P., McCulloch, N., Noble, D.G., Risely, K., Robinson, R.A. & Wotton, S. Our volunteers: the beating heart of BTO data

SUKB collates data from annual, periodic and one-off surveys and monitoring studies of birds, such as the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP), the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP) and Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme (GSMP). In addition, the 2020 report also includes results from the Nest Record Scheme, Constant Effort Sites (CES) Scheme and Re-trapping Adults for Survival (RAS) Scheme, the latter two schemes collecting demographic information through the efforts of bird ringers.

The report takes information from these and other schemes, research and surveys and delivers information at a country-specific scale, as well as providing an overview for the UK as a whole.

Volunteers play an essential role in bird monitoring in the UK, by donating their time, energy and expertise. The data they collect are vital for conservation, tracking changes in populations and supporting policy development. This year, many monitoring schemes have been adversely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic and we want to say a special thank you to all of our volunteers for their continued support through this difficult time. Their skill, effort and dedication deserve huge recognition. Sarah Harris, BBS National Organiser

Woodland species

This year’s report highlights the continuing poor fortunes of the UK’s woodland birds. The UK Wild Bird Populations Indicator for woodland species show a long-term decline of 27% since the early 1970s, with declines of 7% evident over just the last five years. More worryingly, when looking at individual trends within the report, some specialist woodland birds have declined dramatically, including Willow Tit with a 94% decline since 1970 as illustrated by the joint Common Birds Census / Breeding Bird Survey UK-wide trend.

After worrying declines in breeding Tawny owl populations were flagged-up by the Breeding Bird Survey, BTO launched targeted survey work on this species during 2018 and 2019. SUKB reports on some of the results from this research, which revealed a decline in site occupancy from 65% in 2005 to 53% in 2018/19. The BTO work has also sought to understand some of the reasons for this change in fortunes.

Results at different scales

Data from many of the surveys covered in SUKB also feed into European-wide schemes and the SUKB report goes from celebrating the publication of the latest European Breeding Bird Atlas, through to finer-scale country-specific results and research. Not bad for an 80 page report!

Country-specific headlines include increases in House Sparrow populations in Wales, where work is also taking place to address the pronounced decline in Curlew numbers. In Scotland, the fragile status of Corncrake is highlighted, alongside increases in farmland species such as Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer. The Northern Ireland pages look into changing fortunes of seabirds and explore how proposed marine Special Protection Areas may be used to tackling the observed decline. The Northern Ireland pages also examine declines in wintering geese, such as Light-bellied Brent Goose. Finally, over to England and promising results for Stone Curlew conservation work, as well as reporting back on the English Winter Bird Survey for which 1,485 sites were surveyed by volunteers to help us understand the value of agri-environment options.

As in previous reports, we hear about species from 14 UK Overseas Territories and three Crown Dependencies – including Black-browed Albatross, St Helena Plover and South Georgia Pipit, about the Gough Island Restoration Programme, and discover that 69 species in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are now Globally Threatened.

Closer to home, 25 years of BTO Garden BirdWatch is also celebrated, with Goldfinch now the 8th most commonly recorded garden bird, up from 20th back in 1995.

Volunteers

There is a common theme in this report: volunteers. The sheer enormity of their contributions to bird monitoring as a whole is evident throughout this report. Most of the surveys and schemes covered here are only possible thanks to the dedication and skills of the thousands of volunteers who give up their time to help monitor birds and in turn, inform conservation action. Thank you.

Who produces this report?

SUKB 2020 is produced by a coalition of three NGOs: the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), together with the UK’s statutory nature conservation bodies: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland (DAERA), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Natural England (NE), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and NatureScot.

BTO’s Youth Engagement: nothing about us, without us

WEBSITEEDITOR — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:27:44 +0000

Former BTO Youth Representative Keir writes about what BTO Youth has meant to him. No

Keir Chauhan Independent researcher Keir Chauhan is an independent researcher currently studying History at UCL. A former BTO Youth Rep, he is passionate about conservation, birds, and getting people out in nature.

Birds and people

The difference we make

Youth voices

My BTO journey has been so intricately linked to my personal growth that it feels remiss to mention it merely through descriptions of what I did and what I achieved. I know my experience is not unique. The connections made between both volunteers and young people who engage with BTO Youth are substantial in shaping people’s lives. It was one of the many reasons why I loved volunteering with BTO Youth.

So, when I agreed to write this blog, the dilemma remained about how to sum up BTO Youth. I decided I would spotlight what I loved about it.

Teamwork and collaboration

As a community, BTO Youth empowers everyone through a shared love of birds. It is built on teamwork and mutual respect. The principle of “nothing about us, without us” could not be more clearly demonstrated than in my time at BTO.

BTO Youth gave me the chance to work collaboratively with peers to implement and deliver the youth engagement strategies of the organisation — in the process, changing me as much as it changed the lives of the wonderful young people who engage with the organisation every day.

Empowering everyone

bto_youth_get-together_2021_by_bto_youth.jpeg

BTO’s journey to inclusivity is a lifetime mission, and inclusivity will continue to be a challenge to reckon with across conservation and environmental science organisations. Yet BTO Youth has made significant strides to increase inclusivity and accessibility of youth engagement for all young people.

What this means in practice is reducing the barriers facing young people getting interested in birding — running bird ID training courses, demystifying the sector in Nature Natter talks, and running the Equipment Donation Scheme.

Celebrating unique connections to birds

bto_youth_get-together_2021_by_bto_youth.jpeg

On a personal level, the confidence BTO Youth has provided me and others has been invaluable. I want to emphasise confidence because, by allowing people the space to grow and develop their skills, BTO Youth helps both volunteers and young people celebrate their unique connections to birds. People’s relationships with nature have similarities through shared cultures, but also some profound differences.

Individual encounters between people and birds are laced with meaning. Whether it was the common bird that got you interested in birding, or finally seeing a rare bird of almost mythical proportions, these encounters matter. By providing opportunities for young people to learn more about birds both online and in person, greater connections between people and birds can be developed.

Sharing nature’s value for mental and physical health

On a fundamental level, if more young people are connected to nature, more young people can understand its value for both mental and physical health. For me, the effects have been profound, and birding has become an important source for finding mindfulness.

As BTO moves on in 2024, I hope that it will continue to develop and engage more young people in innovative and unusual ways. But I thought I would end this short blog by highlighting what attracted me to BTO Youth in the first place. This was to engage more young people in the natural world so they too could see the benefits of nature for their mental and physical health.

Waxwings, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO

What I wish

to be a part of the

birdwatchers after sunrise,

Looking for birds today,

Seeking the unknown,

A hidden world,

Here I stand and it is freezing.

Yet, watching lapwings in the snow,

Keeps my heart soaring.

Never let go of that …

Exhilaration.

Oh, birdwatchers before sunset,

Looking out for a surprise

In the hope of something feathery feeding

Nobody told these birds to come here,

Yet the birds keep coming.

Even as the day draws near.

The simplicity of birding provides the vision.

To project on bird’s greater glories

Deeper meanings

Feeding the rational into a place of dreaming for the irrational

Birds cut the cage that keeps my soul.

Trapped and out of reach.

Helps me breathe and helps me speak.

To live life in the presence of birds

Oh, birdwatchers are up late at night.

Listening out for the birds

Migrating in starlight

Never expected to see birds I have seen.

In my local park, but now I know.

Even cities are full of life.

Makes me, me.

Oh, birdwatchers up at sunrise.

Who will be the first up and the first to rise?

For the waxwings arrived last night.

Get involved in BTO Youth

Visit the BTO Youth hub to explore news, events and blogs as well as updates from the Youth Advisory Panel and our Youth Representatives.

BTO Youth Hub

1 January 2024

How do I even begin to sum up what BTO Youth has meant for me? This was the question I immediately asked myself when I promised I would write this blog for BTO Youth Engagement Manager Faye Vogely.

19 Jan 2024

BTO Youth

Declining seabirds on a cliff edge

MIKETOMS — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:49:49 +0000

2023-30 21 Dec 2023

Globally important seabird colonies have suffered catastrophic impacts of avian influenza over the last two years. Now, newly published research led by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) suggests that the majority of seabird species in Britain and Ireland are also likely to suffer long-term impacts from climate change that may even surpass these recent losses.

The study, published today in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, projects that under a scenario of 2°C warming by 2050, some species such as Puffin, Fulmar and Arctic Tern could see population declines of more than 70% compared to their numbers at the turn of the millennium. The results suggest that marine specialist species, including terns, auks and petrels, are at greater risk than more generalist and adaptable species such as gulls. Some species may colonise new areas of Britain and Ireland, but for most species this is not likely to compensate for declines in areas where they currently breed.

The study found that seabirds are generally present in lower numbers where the air temperature is higher during the breeding season, although each seabird species responded in its own way to different aspects of the marine and terrestrial climate. However, it concludes that most seabird species in Britain and Ireland will struggle due to impacts from warming air and sea temperatures, as well as changes in rainfall patterns and other aspects of the marine environment. These changes could potentially reduce food availability for seabirds or increase the likelihood of death due to extreme weather events.

Dr Jacob Davies, BTO Research Ecologist and lead author of the study said: “Here in Britain and Ireland, we are fortunate to host internationally important breeding colonies of seabirds. Our research suggests that many of our much-loved seabird species such as the Kittiwake and Puffin are particularly sensitive to the negative effects of warming and are seriously threatened by climate change.”

“Alongside the potential negative future effects of climate change, many of our seabirds are already in steep decline, due to a range of factors including overfishing and avian influenza. The better we understand the problems these iconic species face and how birds may respond to them, the better placed we will be to help them.”

Dr Rich Howells, Senior Marine Ornithologist, Marine Directorate, Scottish Government, who co-authored the study said: “Climate change is the greatest threat to our internationally important seabird populations. This study provides important information on potential climate change impacts over the long-term, which can be used to inform our conservation actions to increase resilience in seabird populations.”

This paper is available at https://www.int-res.com/prepress/m14462.html

The work was part of the MarPAMM project, funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

Marine Directorate is responsible for the integrated management of Scotland's seas. Its purpose is to manage Scotland's seas for prosperity and environmental sustainability, working closely with our key delivery partners and others.

BTO and Vine House Farm

IEVANS1 — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:45:46 +0000

BTO is proud to work in partnership with leading bird care company Vine House Farm, with the shared aim of making a positive impact for birds.

It is estimated that more than half of all households in the UK engage in feeding birds in their gardens. BTO has long been at the forefront of monitoring and researching the effects of food provision on wild birds. This work has yielded fascinating insights into how the UK public’s bird feeding habits have impacted wild bird populations, and helped to produce best practice guidance for feeding birds safely.

The partnership between BTO and Vine House Farm provides an opportunity to engage many more people in the enjoyable habit of feeding garden birds and to help them learn how to do this in the best ways for their birds.

Vine House Farm is a conservation-award-winning farm, managed with wildlife in mind and environmental responsibility to the fore. The family behind this business has been associated with BTO since 1960, with Vine House Farm founder Nicholas Watts MBE contributing to many BTO surveys and monitoring schemes.

To find out more about their great range of high quality foods, feeders, nest boxes, bird houses and other products, visit the Vine House Farm website.

BTO is delighted to be joining Vine House Farm in a partnership that recognises the joy that feeding birds in gardens brings to thousands of people and the need to ensure that this food is high quality and sustainably sourced. Their support of BTO will help us to engage more people in discovering birds and help to conserve and understand them on our doorstep and further afield. Prof. Juliet Vickery

Volunteers needed to count winter gulls

MIKETOMS — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:54:24 +0000

2023-29 05 Dec 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has put today out a call for volunteers, able to identify our common wintering gull species, as part of an important project to understand and conserve these birds, which are of conservation concern because of their declining breeding populations.

In winter, gulls flock together to roost communally on lakes, reservoirs and estuaries across the UK, in groups that can number many hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Understanding where these roosts occur, and the numbers of birds using them, is key to helping us to protect these birds.

The Winter Gull Survey is a long-running monitoring programme, which has taken place approximately every 10 years since 1953. However, there has been a gap of nearly 20 years since the last survey so a new survey is much-needed. The project’s overarching aim is to provide robust information on the numbers and distributions of wintering gulls, many of which are of conservation concern and appear on either the Birds of Conservation Concern Red or Amber List.

The Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) will run over the winters of 2023/24 and 2024/25 and volunteers are needed to cover survey sites in the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The volunteers will visit roost sites used by wintering gulls, counting all gull species but with particular focus on six key species: Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Mediterranean Gull and Great Black-backed Gull.

BTO is seeking volunteer birdwatchers who are confident that they can:

count large numbers of birds accurately – roosts can number thousands of individuals and birds gather in late afternoon as the light fades.
identify the six most abundant UK gull species: Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Mediterranean Gull and Great Black-backed Gull.

Potential volunteers can find out more about the survey, the availability of survey sites near them, and how to sign up by visiting the project webpage https://www.bto.org/wings

Emma Caulfield, the Survey Organiser for WinGS, said "Information collected in this winter’s survey will start to fill the gaps in our knowledge which have developed since the last survey 20 years ago. This is particularly important given that gulls have been impacted by the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and we are still seeking to understand the full implications of this."

Dawn Balmer, BTO Head of Surveys, said "Many of our gull species are experiencing significant declines in their breeding populations, hence their conservation status, and we urgently need to improve our understanding of where and in what numbers they winter."

New records chart remarkable lives

MIKETOMS — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 11:24:41 +0000

2023-26 14 Nov 2023

In July 1997, a Black Guillemot chick was ringed in Orkney. This bird successfully fledged from its nest and lived for nearly 25 years without being seen again. In May 2022, the bird was recaptured, still in Orkney, making it the oldest-known Black Guillemot in Britain and Ireland! This is one of the new records – see notes for editors for others – that has just been published in the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) latest ringing and nest recording report, charting the remarkable lives of our birds.

Fitting uniquely numbered rings to chicks in the nest allows scientists to understand exactly how long birds live and to work out how, and potentially why, the numbers that survive change over time. Seabirds like the Amber-listed Black Guillemot can live for a long time but do not produce many young each year. This life history strategy makes their populations particularly vulnerable to periods of increased mortality, such as those caused by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which has had a devastating impact on our seabird and waterbird populations over the past three summers.

Britain and Ireland host the majority of Europe’s breeding seabirds, meaning our breeding colonies are of international importance and HPAI could threaten the global conservation status of some species. More positively, there are indications that some seabirds, such as Gannet, which were especially badly impacted by HPAI in 2022, may be developing immunity to the disease, but more research is needed to confirm how long this immunity might last.

Sightings of ringed birds can be submitted to www.ring.ac

Dr Dave Leech, head of the British and Irish Ringing Scheme, says: ‘Ringing will play a key role in monitoring HPAI impacts, as it allows conservationists to follow the fortunes of individual birds, each with a slightly different likelihood of encountering the disease. To date, the amazing efforts of volunteer ringers have helped BTO and the Country Agencies to identify those species and colonies that have been impacted worst by the disease and to quantify the increase in mortality rates during the outbreak. Whether HPAI is here to stay or not remains to be seen but, whatever happens, these data will prove vital in terms of managing populations and supporting their recovery.’

Notes for editors

Around 20,000 pairs of Black Guillemots breed on the rocky coasts of Ireland and north-west Britain. They are one of our most-sedentary seabirds, wintering only a short distance offshore. They are considerably smaller than Guillemots, have bright red feet and all black plumage, except for distinctive white wing patches in summer. They will sometimes breed in nest boxes located in harbour walls.

The British and Irish Ringing Scheme is organised by the BTO and funded by the BTO/JNCC partnership on behalf of the Country Agencies. More than 900,000 birds are ringed in Britain and Ireland each year by around 3,000 trained ringers, most of whom are volunteers. You can help by reporting any ringed bird you find. The annual report on bird ringing is published in the BTO journal Ringing & Migration. For more about ringing, please visit www.bto.org/ringing.

Details of the other new longevity records, set in 2022 (for BTO-ringed birds) appear below. In each case the record is shown after the species name, which is then followed by the ringing details (second line) and finding details (third line); the fourth line shows the distance between ringing and finding, and the time elapsed between the two. The final line shows any comments on the record and this bird.

White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons (19 years 1 month 25 days)
Ring number 1350933 Adult Female 25-01-2003 Slimbridge Swan Pipe (Gloucestershire)
Alive (neck collar seen) 22-03-2022 Gac, Podalskie Poland
1,669 km 19 years 1 month 25 days
Previous record: 18 years 9 months 22 days

Little Egret Egretta garzetta (16 years 6 months 15 days)
Ring number GF49953 Nestling 11-06-2006 Sowley Pond (Hampshire)
Alive (colour rings seen) 26-12-2022 Pennington (Hampshire)
4 km 16 years 6 months 15 days
Previous record: 15 years 2 months 27 days (same bird)

Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta (31 years 7 months 27 days)
Ring number ER2787_$2 Nestling 02-07-1990 Titchwell RSPB Reserve (Norfolk)
Alive (colour rings seen) 01-03-2022 RSPB Titchwell Marsh (Norfolk)
0 km 31 years 7 months 27 days
***Cannot be identified to an individual – one of two. Known age of bird confirmed, but not identity.***
Previous record: 27 years 9 days

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus (11 years 4 months 25 days)
Ring number BV13418 First-year 14-11-2010 Lemsford (Hertfordshire)
Alive (colour rings seen) 08-04-2022 Symondshyde Farm (Hertfordshire)
3 km 11 years 4 months 25 days
Previous record: 11 years 1 month 17 days (same bird)

Redshank Tringa totanus (22 years 2 months 17 days)
DB34864 First-year 28-09-2000 Farlington Marshes (Portsmouth)
Alive (colour rings seen) 15-12-2022 Eastney (Hampshire)
4 km 22 years 2 months 17 daus
Previous record: 20 years 8 months 23 days

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle (24 years 10 months 15 days)
Ring number ET52126 Nestling 16-07-1997 North Ronaldsay (Orkney)
Caught by ringer 31-05-2022 North Ronaldsay (Orkney)
2 km 24 years 10 months 15 days
Previous record: 24 years 8 months 19 days

Stock Dove Columba oenas (10 years 26 days)
Ring number EL36399 Adult Male 01-06-2012 Thetford: 52°24'N 0°45'E (Norfolk)
Caught by ringer 27-06-2022 Thetford: 52°24'N 0°45'E (Norfolk)
0 km 10 years 0 months 26 days
Previous record: 9 years 2 months 12 days

Barn Owl Tyto alba (15 years 7 months 2 days)
Ringing number GC25454 Nestling 24-08-2006 near North Wootton (Norfolk)
Freshly dead 26-03-2022 near Swaffham (Norfolk)
29 km 15 years 7 months 2 days
Previous record: 15 years 3 months 21 days

Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax (23 years 10 months 26 days)
Ring number ET54746 Nestling Male 18-05-1998 Site Confidential: c. 53°25'N 4°19'W (Isle of Anglesey)
Alive (colour rings seen) 13-04-2022 (Isle of Anglesey)
23 years 10 months 26 days
Previous record: 23 years 11 days

Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus (8 years 10 months 22 days)
Ring number D413294 Full-grown Male 29-10-2013 Tay Lodge (Perth and Kinross)
Caught by ringer 20-09-2022 Tay Lodge (Perth and Kinross)
0 km 8 years 10 months 22 days
Previous record: 7 years 3 months

House Sparrow Passer domesticus (13 years 8 months 22 days)
TL62834 Juvenile Male 08-07-2008 Bedwas (Caerphilly)
Alive (colour rings seen) 30-03-2022 Bedwas (Caerphilly)
0 km 13 years 8 months 22 days
Previous record: 12 years 8 months 27 days

Winter Gull Survey relaunched after 20 years to assess vulnerable gull populations

WEBSITEEDITOR — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 17:09:38 +0000

13 Nov 2023

The Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) was created in 1952 to collect information about the population size and distribution of gulls wintering in the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. Over 70 years later the survey’s overarching objective remains the same but is underpinned by a new urgency: a need to understand and address the various gulls’ recently acquired Red and Amber conservation status.

All the gull species that regularly occur in the UK are listed in Birds of Conservation Concern on the Amber or Red List.

Recent assessments of bird populations in the UK have revealed a decline in both breeding and overwintering populations of gulls. As a result, all gull species that regularly occur in the UK are now listed in the assessment on the Amber or Red List in Birds of Conservation Concern.

The declines are worrying because the UK harbours a significant proportion of the global population of breeding gulls of various species: currently, there are over 50 sites in the UK that have been designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) due to the presence of internationally important numbers of gulls during the breeding season. These sites have enhanced legal protection for wildlife, and are often managed by conservation organisations to help boost populations of vulnerable species.

winter_gull_roost_by_ian_sheppard.png

Winter gull roost, by Ian Sheppard.

Wintering gulls in the UK

The UK is also recognised as an important area for gulls during the winter period. Over the colder months, the gulls’ geographic distribution shifts significantly, and the birds often occupy regions outside of their breeding areas. However, these winter ranges are not considered when designating protected sites, which means that there is little targeted conservation for wintering gulls.

In the upcoming WinGS surveys, we aim to address this gap in protected site designation by monitoring overwintering gulls, collecting key information about their population size and distribution, and providing evidence to underpin the conservation of these species.

How will BTO monitor gulls?

wings-volunteer-at-a-roost-count-by-teresa-frost.jpg

WinGS volunteers will visit key gull roost sites at dusk.

Gulls disperse widely over the landscape during daylight hours, making them a tricky group of species to monitor. Their habit of gathering to roost at dusk provides the best way to make accurate assessments of their numbers. WinGS, which will run during the winters of 2023/24 and 2024/25, is a bespoke survey designed to take advantage of this roosting behaviour.

WinGS volunteers will survey known roost sites at large estuaries and reservoirs – ‘key’ sites – and identify and count the gulls in flight as they arrive in huge numbers around dusk. Some major key sites will necessitate team coordination and create fantastic opportunities for surveyors to connect with fellow gull enthusiasts! WinGS also includes planned visits to ‘random’ sample sites at both inland and coastal locations, which will enable us to generate complete UK-wide population estimates.

The comprehensive WinGS roost counts that we will carry out over the next two years will make a significant step towards addressing the information gaps about gull populations that have arisen in the past two decades.

Both the key and random sites need to be visited at least once in January of 2024 and 2025, and also in the autumn of 2024, when we will assess what are known as ‘post-breeding aggregations’ of birds.

Our focus will be directed towards the six most prevalent gull species in the UK: Black-headed, Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed and Mediterranean Gulls. The Mediterranean Gull was not included as a target species in previous survey seasons of WinGS, but we have decided to include this elegant gull in the scheme in the upcoming surveys due to its increasing reliance on UK sites in the winter months, and the UK’s increasing responsibility for its conservation. This trend was revealed by the BTO/RSPB/JNCC Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), which saw a sharp increase in the number of these birds recorded at WeBS count sites after 2017.

Charting change

black-headed-gull-by-alan-drewitt-bto.jpg

The Black-headed Gull was the most numerous species during the previous WinGS survey season (2003/04–2005/06), but has declined by as much as 40% since that time.

Long-time BTO survey participants may remember the last WinGS season, which took place during the winters of 2003/04 and 2005/06. At that time, data collected by the survey participants concluded that inland and near-shore coastal waters of the UK supported over 3.8 million wintering gulls.

The most abundant gull species recorded during that survey period was the Black-headed Gull, with an estimated two million birds wintering across the UK. However, more recent population trends based on WeBS data have pointed towards substantial declines of around 40% in this species’ wintering numbers. This trend has no doubt been exacerbated by the effects of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which is thought to have killed around 10% of the total UK breeding population of Black-headed Gulls since March 2023.

WinGS will produce robust evidence and support the development and implementation of effective conservation strategies for the UK’s gulls.

As the previous survey season was so many years ago, we expect to find other changes in the gull populations too. The comprehensive WinGS roost counts that we will carry out over the next two years will make a significant step towards building an up-to-date understanding of how gull populations have altered in the last two decades.

We will combine the information revealed by the WinGS data with that of other key monitoring schemes, including WeBS and the Seabird Monitoring Programme, to produce robust evidence and support the development and implementation of effective conservation strategies for the UK’s gulls.

Learn more about WinGS

Learn about the project’s history and aims, and how to get involved.

Yes

Winter Gull Survey

Big Bird Race 2023

WEBSITEEDITOR — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:16:12 +0000

03 Oct 2023

Over 100 people across the UK came together to share their excitement about birds and celebrate BTO’s 90th anniversary in the Big Bird Race 2023 on 23 September.

The Big Bird Race, organised by BTO Youth Representatives, showed us how powerful it is when we all come together and enjoy the beauty of our bird friends. A total of 117 people took part, from total beginners to experienced birdwatchers, going on birdwatching races in a range of habitats to identify as many species as possible in four hours while using only green means of travel.

crickley_hillbillies_in_the_big_bird_race_2023.jpg

For The Allsorts team from Staffordshire, the highlight was “everyone being excited EVERY time we spotted another bird (no matter how common!) and making sure it was recorded in the species list!”

For others, such as the Crickley Hillbillies team from Gloucestershire, the best part of the day was “finding birds that were ‘lifers’ for some members – Goldcrest for one and Green Woodpecker for another.”

And families such as Team Sandbrook from Cambridgeshire loved “being outside together for the afternoon, in the sunshine and the fresh air.”

Birdwatching for everyone

BTO Youth’s aim wasn’t just to teach people about birds, but also to make everyone feel like birding and nature can be for them.

BTO Youth’s aim wasn’t just to teach people about birds, but also to make everyone feel like birding and nature can be for them. By bringing together a whole host of experience levels and ages, everyone will have learned something new, made some great memories and, hopefully, grown a greater appreciation for birds.

Our thanks go to the BTO Youth Representatives for organising the nationwide Big Bird Race 2023, and to those who hosted teams on the day.

Prize winners and special mentions

Inland League

Teams in the Inland League took part over five miles from the coast.

First Prize: London Lads with 86 points

Second Prize: No Nuns Impeded with 67 points

Third Prize: Lambourne with 66 points

Additional prizes went to the team with the score closest to the median (middle) overall score, and the team with the second-to-lowest score.

Closest to the median score: Three Creepers with 40 points

Second-to-lowest score: The ‘Robin’ Hoods with 16 points

Coastal League

Teams in the Coastal League took part within five miles of the coast.

First Prize: Clochan Wonders with 66 points

Second Prize: Team Edinbird with 64 points

Third Prize: Penryn Birders with 55 points

Additional prizes went to the team with the score closest to the median (middle) overall score, and the team with the second-to-lowest score.

Closest to the median score: Bearded Tits with 49 points

Second-to-lowest score: Mafia Finches with 33 points

Intergenerational Gap Award

The Biggest Intergenerational Gap Award went to the Wandering Wilsons team, with an incredible age difference of 68 years, nine months, and 12 days between their youngest and oldest member! The team was joined, among others, by David (age 77) and Morgan (age eight).

Get involved with BTO Youth!

Discover more about events like this and other opportunities to get involved in the BTO Youth Hub.

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Birds and people

Learning to lead: stories from the Young Leaders Course 2023

WEBSITEEDITOR — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:14:40 +0000

BTO Youth speak to attendees of the 2023 Young Leaders Course about their experiences.

BTO Youth Visit the BTO Youth Hub BTO Youth’s vision is of a diverse, vibrant community of young birders supported by BTO, with accessible, youth-led opportunities inspiring young people to engage with nature and science.

Lilia, James and Jasmine spoke to us about their experience of the course, and how it helped them grow as budding conservation leaders.

Lilia (she/her), 18

“I applied for the BTO Young Leaders Course as the qualities of being a leader and having to confidently assert myself were not things I’d previously had a lot of opportunity to practice. I was excited to spend time in the beautiful New Forest but slightly apprehensive about putting myself outside of my comfort zone. However, I am so glad I went as I had such an amazing time with really lovely people and have taken away a lot!

The four-day course was jam-packed with so many really great sessions that it’s hard to choose a favourite: talks given by the lovely Jack Baker (creator of Pangolin: The Conservation Podcast) and the inspirational Dr Anjana Khatwa (Earth Scientist, presenter, advocate and author), practising debating an environmental issue with Richard Benwell (Chief Executive at Wildlife and Countryside Link) acting as an MP, and running our own guided walks while being kept on our toes by seeing how we would react to unexpected scenarios – someone pretending to talk really loudly on a call, run off, or even have a heart attack!

I now feel much more confident within myself, and being surrounded by other enthusiastic young people already studying or working in different interesting areas has made me really hopeful and excited for the future.”

I now feel much more confident within myself, and being surrounded by other enthusiastic young people ... has made me really hopeful and excited for the future.Lilia

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James (he/him), 22

“The BTO Young Leaders Course came at a perfect time for me, as I’m just starting my second year at university, taking on a new role in its Ecological Society, and getting involved with other local projects.

I signed up for the course with the intention of developing my public interaction and communication skills, to become more comfortable leading walks and talks. It’s fair to say I left having gained so much more!

My fellow course members were massively welcoming ... it was an unforgettable few days, and a privilege to meet and learn from so many other people who care about the natural world.James

The range of guest speakers was excellent, and they covered fascinating topics and skills that, up until then, I had no previous experience with. Personal highlights included ending up in a simulated Whitehall testing my environmental negotiation skills, and spotting Crossbills whilst learning how to plan and run a guided walk in the forest!

For someone who, at times, struggles to interact with big groups of people, the staff and my fellow course members were massively welcoming, and coupled with the guest sessions, this really helped me build my self-confidence. It was an unforgettable few days, and a privilege to meet and learn from so many other people who care about the natural world.”

The highlight of the course was planning and leading my own 15-minute activity ... everyone in the group was so supportive and engaged, and even though I was nervous beforehand I really enjoyed delivering the session and would love to do it again.Jasmine

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Jasmine (she/her), 21

“I had an amazing time at the BTO Young Leaders Course this summer – it was so exciting to meet other young leaders in conservation and hear their stories.

We also got to experience workshops run by some fantastic speakers and explore brand-new topics. And of course, getting to spend the course in the New Forest was a treat!

The highlight of the course for me was planning and leading my own 15-minute activity, which all of the participants got to do. Everyone in the group was so supportive and engaged, and even though I was nervous beforehand I really enjoyed delivering the session and would love to do it again.

Overall, the course really helped me push myself to interact with new people, ask and answer questions from the speakers and helped me feel more confident in myself and my abilities.”

Young people are the future of BTO

Donate to the BTO Youth Appeal today

Partners and support

The Young Leaders Course is supported by the following organisations:

Cameron Bespolka Trust

The generous support of the Cameron Bespolka Trust made the course and its contents possible.

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Raptor Aid

Funding from Raptor Aid supported the provision of travel bursaries for young people travelling to the course.

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2 September 2023

At this year’s Young Leaders Course in the beautiful New Forest, 11 dedicated young people and five inspirational lecturers joined forces to share and learn from each other’s experiences in leadership.

26 Sep 2023

BTO Youth

Why become a BTO Regional Network volunteer?

WEBSITEEDITOR — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:33:13 +0000

In the first of our Regional Network blog miniseries, we speak to Nick, David and Stephen about why they started volunteering and the changes they’ve seen since then. Yes Stephen Metcalfe, Nick Hilton and David Kennett BTO Regional Network volunteers Breeding Bird SurveyHeronries CensusWetland Bird Survey

What many people may not realise is that we get a vast amount of support from what we call our Regional Network. This is made up of volunteers who represent BTO at a regional level whilst also acting as the first point of contact for their local volunteer surveyors.

Regional Representatives act on behalf of BTO in a given region. They may take on the organisation of one or more of the surveys, or they may help individual Local Organisers with their work.
Local and Regional Organisers act for one survey in a region, coordinating existing volunteers and finding new ones, and verifying survey data.
Regional and Garden BirdWatch Ambassadors promote BTO in their area, highlighting the work we do and how people can get involved.

In the first of our Regional Network blog miniseries, we speak to Stephen, Nick and David about why they started volunteering and the changes they’ve seen since then.

Stephen Metcalfe: Regional Representative (Lothian)

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Although I have been a keen birder since I was a boy, I didn’t start volunteering for BTO until 2014.

I offered to become the Regional Representative for the area in 2019 when my predecessor wanted to step down. At the time I was looking for a voluntary role where I might contribute to something I believed to be important. The work of BTO, providing the science behind much that is changing in the natural world, made the role very appealing, despite my total lack of any scientific background.

The role itself is primarily promotional and administrative. I administer the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Heronries Census locally, and I liaise with the local BTO/RSPB/JNCC Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) organisers and Garden BirdWatch (GBW) Ambassador. The amount of time this takes up varies over the year, with my busiest period being between March and July. The sheer variety of habitats and species in the various surveys run by BTO and its partners makes volunteering particularly rewarding.

Whatever your knowledge and experience (and I certainly do not regard myself as being an expert ornithologist), there is probably something everyone can do to contribute towards BTO’s science. My role involves matching people’s experience and knowledge to an appropriate survey.

In everything I’ve done so far as Regional Representative, I know I can count on the support and advice that I have had from the BTO Scotland office. Their help has been invaluable, and I am sure that anyone thinking of applying to be a Regional Representative could expect to receive all the help they might need to take on the role.

Whatever your knowledge and experience, there is probably something everyone can do to contribute towards BTO’s science. Stephen Metcalfe, BTO Regional Representative (Lothian)

David Kennett: WeBS Local Organiser (Isle of Man)

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My predecessor was an eminent ornithologist with a huge knowledge of the island and its birds, but had been seeking a successor for some time. I’m only an average birder but after confessing that I had done a BBS square before moving to the island, I was persuaded to volunteer as Regional Representative and Local Organiser for BBS in 2017, and as WeBS Local Organiser in early 2019.

When I started, regular WeBS counts were carried out at just six sites. After I promoted the survey at evening meetings of our local bird club (Manx Ornithological Society), and with much help from our Regional Ambassador (also conveniently our bird club secretary!), there was considerable interest in taking part.

By 2020, with the enthusiasm of several new counters, the number of surveyed sites had increased to 19, including two harbours and many inland waterbodies. By 2021 the number had increased again to 24, and by the end of 2022, 15 counters were covering 34 sites. As WeBS Local Organiser this sort of progress is naturally very rewarding, and it’s always fascinating to see what is being recorded every month all around the island.

Since becoming WeBS Local Organiser I’ve had a huge amount of help and encouragement from the WeBS team at Thetford, especially from Counter Network Organiser Gill Birtles. In a similar way, I always feel it’s so important to acknowledge the effort and commitment that our counters put into their sites. Dealing with queries, setting up new sites and counters and checking data are all part of a Local Organiser’s work, and I like to think that a big “thank you” at the end of each reporting year should be a part of it too.

Point of Ayre National Reserve, one of the key WeBS sites on the Isle of Man. Manx BirdLife

Nick Hilton: Regional Representative (Manchester)

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When I was asked to contribute to this blog I wasn’t sure what the readers’ expectations would be. Being a Regional Representative for BTO isn’t normally a thrill-a-minute, roller coaster ride of events. However, it can be a very satisfying role, and ultimately it gives me as an individual a sense of making a positive difference.

The previous Regional Representative for the Manchester region posted his intentions to hand over the role on our local Manchester Birding Forum in July 2014. As of November 2014, nobody had come forward to offer their services and it was beginning to prick my conscience. Having been a member of BTO since 2000 and involved with both BBS and WeBS for many years, I felt it was important to collect survey data and believed the data made a difference to outcomes in our natural world. I am no scientist, political leader (thankfully!) or person of influence, but what I can do is identify birds, count them and organise others to do the same.

I took on the role in late 2014 after discussing it with Dawn Balmer, and completing a simple application process. Dawn has always been and continues to be totally supportive. She holds the keystone role of Head of Surveys at BTO and, for us Regional Representatives, is usually our first port of call for any queries. I also benefit from the support of the WeBS Local Organiser for Manchester, Tim Wilcox.

Ultimately, I like to think I’m playing a very small, active part in understanding and conserving our natural world. If you can identify birds and count them, you can record this information with BTO. Even better, if you can organise others to do the same, become a BTO Regional Representative!

If you can identify birds and count them, you can record this information with BTO. Even better, if you can organise others to do the same, become a BTO Regional Representative! Nick Hilton, BTO Regional Representative (Manchester)

Join our Regional Network

Do you love your local Herons? Enjoy chatting with your local birding network about how they can help? Are you familiar with the Breeding Bird Survey and know your area well? Or are you mad for ducks and waders and want to help with the Wetland Bird Survey?

If the answer to any of these is “Yes!”, then we’d love to hear from you. There are vacancies in the Regional Network across Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

BTO is here to help and we have staff across the four nations, as well as Survey Organisers, all happy to give help and support whenever needed.

Browse vacant volunteer roles near you >

1 August 2023

Anyone familiar with the work of BTO will know that volunteers are the backbone of what we do. Thousands of people give generously of their time and skill to help with a huge range of surveys across the UK.

14 Aug 2023