BTO - British Trust for Ornithology - Woodland

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.

Breeding Bird Survey

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:46:31 +0000

The Breeding Bird Survey is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common and widespread breeding birds. The survey involves two early-morning spring visits to a 1-km square, to count all the birds you see or hear while walking two parallel 1-km lines across the square.

Breeding Bird SurveyButterfly Monitoring Friday, April 1, 1994 - 00:00

BBS monitors the population changes of 118 breeding bird species across the UK thanks to the dedication of almost 3,000 volunteers who survey their randomly selected 1-km square each spring.

The BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common and widespread breeding birds, producing population trends for 118 bird and nine mammal species.

The survey involves a recce visit and two early-morning spring visits to an allocated 1-km square, to count all the birds you see or hear while walking two 1-km lines across the square and record any nest counts for colonial nesting birds in the square.

You can optionally record mammals and visit your square later in the season to survey for butterflies. There is the option to return data on paper, via field recording forms or to submit your data on BBS-Online.

Support the future of our birds

Our surveys are vital. The data they produce help us drive positive change for the UK’s birds.

But increased pressure on funding is putting our surveys and data at risk – which is why we need your support.

Donate today

bbs-report-2022-cover.jpg

Read the latest BBS report

The Breeding Bird Survey started in 1994, and a report is produced every year containing population changes and other results from the scheme.

The 2022 Breeding Bird Survey Report reveals a mixed picture, especially for birds which breed in farmland habitats.

Read the 2022 Breeding Bird Survey report

How to take part

Find out how to request a square and what the survey entails.

Results

Explore the results from the data BBS volunteers provide.

Mammal recording

Find out how to record mammals during your BBS visits.

Count butterflies on your BBS square

Take part in the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey by making additional visits to your BBS square.

How to enter BBS data online

Instructions and video tutorials on submitting your BBS data.

Download BBS forms

Download and print BBS recording forms instructions and recording forms.

Support the future of our birds

Our surveys are vital. The data they produce help us drive positive change for the UK’s birds.

But increased pressure on funding is putting our surveys and data at risk – which is why we need your support.

Donate today

Take part in BBS - counting for conservation

David White

James Heywood

February – March Forms sent or downloaded
March Reconnaissance visit
Early April – mid May Early visit
Mid May – late June Late visit
May – August Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey
End of August Data entry deadline

Undertake three site visits between April and June - a recce and two morning visits, along with data entry. Able to identify UK breeding birds by sight, song and call. If you have the necessary bird ID skills to take part in the Breeding Bird Survey but want to learn more about survey methods, there are a number of BTO training courses covering this subject.

ongoing Farmland birdsUpland birdsWoodland birdsOther species volunteers

BTO Urban AppealWider Countryside Butterfly SurveyAssessing agri-environment schemes No bbs@bto.org

The phenology and clutch size of UK Blue Tits does not differ with woodland composition

MIKETOMS — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 08:49:47 +0000

The Cuckoo cohort of 2024 takes flight!

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Branston, C.J., Whittingham, M.J., Phillimore, A.B., Leech, D. & Willis, S.G. Ibis 10.1111/ibi.13248

The deciduous tree-herbivorous caterpillar-insectivorous bird food chain is a well-studied system for investigating the impacts of climate change across trophic levels. To date, across Europe, most attention has focused on the impacts of increasing spring temperature on changes to phenology in oak-dominated (Quercus spp.) woodlands. Paridae species and Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca are the most studied secondary consumers, all of which demonstrate an advancement in reproductive phenology with increases in spring temperature.

Shifts in climate and phenology may also impact on reproductive investment in clutch size, and the effects of climate on phenology and clutch size may vary depending on woodland composition. To date, the effects of among-habitat variation in phenology and reproductive investment have received little attention. Insectivorous birds inhabiting woodlands that differ in tree composition may differ in the timing of breeding, due to local tree leafing phenology acting as a cue for egg-laying date and/or clutch size. Moreover, for most insectivorous birds, woodland composition within a territory is likely to be the main determinant of food availability for both adults and chicks. Consequently, if warming springs affect the temporal patterns of food availability differently across different woodland compositions, this may affect the optimal average local phenology for nesting birds.

Here, using data from 34 long-term (mean 15 years) nest monitoring sites across the UK, we investigate the effect of woodland tree composition and temperature on Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus first egg date (FED) and clutch size. We supplemented the nest monitoring data by quantifying woodland composition, at a site level, through modified point counts.

We predict that birds breeding in woodlands with greater proportions of late-leafing species, such as oak and Ash Fraxinus excelsior, will breed later than those breeding in woodlands with greater proportions of early-leafing species, such as birch Betula spp. and Beech Fagus sylvatica. We found no evidence for differences in Blue Tit FED or clutch size in relation to the proportion of any of the tree species investigated, after controlling for temperature and latitude (FED: −3.4 and 2.2, clutch size: −0.4 and − 0.2 eggs for one-unit increase in temperature and latitude, respectively).

In recent decades and across all sites, clutch size has decreased as spring temperatures have increased, a strategy which could allow birds flexibly to adjust their breeding phenology such that nestling demand coincides with peak food availability. The lack of an effect of woodland composition on Blue Tit phenology suggests Blue Tits do not fine-tune their reproductive phenology to the local tree composition. Whether this lack of evidence for phenological divergence is due to an absence of divergent selection on breeding phenology and clutch size or to gene flow is not clear.

We would like to thank Roger Peart, David Warden, Stuart Downhill, RSPB and their many volunteers, Terry Fenton, Garth Lowe, Ros and John Matthews, John Bebbington, Dave Francis, Mischa Cross, Adam Homer, John Lawton Roberts, Peter Coffey, David Norman, Merseyside Ringing Group, Anne Goodall, Ian Spence, Joseph Carroll, Treswell Wood IPM Group, Chris du Feu, Lancaster District Birdwatching Group, John Wilson, Kevin Briggs, Jill Warwick, C. H. Fletcher, Geoff Myers and Tom Dewdney for collecting the bird nesting data and allowing access to their sites to collect additional habitat data. We would also like to thank David Branston and Harriet Clewlow for assistance in the field, and two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments, which greatly improved the manuscript. The Nest Record Scheme is funded by a partnership of the BTO and the JNCC on behalf of the statutory nature conservation bodies (Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland).

Seeing the wood for the trees, irregular silviculture supports bat populations in conifer plantations

MIKETOMS — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:26:01 +0000

The Cuckoo cohort of 2024 takes flight!

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Cook, P., Alder, D., Hordley, L., Newson, S.E. & Pengelly, D. Forest Ecology and Management 10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121214 Conifer plantations are a major land use globally and provide a range of social, economic and environmental benefits, particularly the provision of timber. There is a growing interest in alternative forestry techniques, such as irregular silviculture, to create more sustainable and resilient plantations in response to climate change. Plantations are often considered poor for bats due to limited structural diversity. Irregular forestry increases structural diversity and reduces growing stocks, with potentially positive effects on bats, but this remains poorly understood in conifer plantations. At two estates in south-west Britain, we specifically tested whether bat species richness and activity respond to (1) the surrounding landscape cover types (2) habitat structure within irregular stands and (3) increasing progress along the transformation continuum in three continuous cover forestry stands undergoing transformation including irregular high forest. Stands further progressed along the transformation continuum had lower basal area, higher mean tree diameter, higher levels of fallen deadwood and greater canopy cover of broadleaf trees. A total of 13 species of bat, equivalent to 76% of the UK resident species were recorded. The activity of six species was significantly influenced by the proportion of four land use types (two positive and two negative associations with conifer woodland, one positive and one negative association with broadleaved woodland, two positive associations with improved grassland and two negative associations with arable) in the surrounding landscape at three spatial scales (500 m, 1500 m and 3000 m around each survey plot). Four species showed significant positive associations with habitat structural features including larger mean tree diameter, greater canopy openness, higher vertical structural complexity, higher quantities of standing and fallen deadwood, and higher canopy cover of broadleaved trees. Many of these habitat features were more prevalent in stands further progressed towards irregular high forest. We did not detect any significant differences in bat species richness or activity levels between the three stand stages, except for Plecotus auritus/austriacus which had higher activity in the Stage 3 stand compared to Stage 2, as the limited replication of our study may have precluded detection of any differences. Our study helps inform us on how bats populations respond to novel management of conifer plantations. Further research to determine thresholds for deadwood and broadleaved trees to further support bats in plantations would be beneficial. We wish to thank the Stourhead Western Estate and National Trust Stourhead Estate for allowing access to conduct the research, in particular Nick Hoare, Henry Hoare and Kim Portnell. Forest manager, David Pengelly, provided important background information regarding the history of the stands, stand selection for the study and management of the stands. Predicting the likely impact of urbanisation on bat populations using citizen science data, a case study for Norfolk, UKRyevitalise – Bats and Ancient Trees: 2022 ReportBird and bat species' global vulnerability to collision mortality with wind farms revealed through a trait-based assessment.

Temporal avoidance as a means of reducing competition between sympatric species

MIKETOMS — Mon, 22 May 2023 15:09:27 +0000

The Cuckoo cohort of 2024 takes flight!

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Maziarz, M., Broughton, R.K., Beck, K.B., Robinson, R.A. & Sheldon, B.C. Royal Society Open Science 10.1098/rsos.230521 Human activity has modified the availability of natural resources and the abundance of species that rely on them, potentially changing interspecific competition dynamics. Here, we use large-scale automated data collection to quantify spatio-temporal competition among species with contrasting population trends. We focus on the spatial and temporal foraging behaviour of subordinate marsh tits Poecile palustris among groups of socially and numerically dominant blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus and great tits Parus major. The three species exploit similar food resources in mixed groups during autumn–winter. Using 421 077 winter recordings of individually marked birds at 65 automated feeding stations in Wytham Woods (Oxfordshire, UK), we found that marsh tits were less likely to join larger groups of heterospecifics, and they accessed food less frequently in larger groups than in smaller ones. Marsh tit numbers within groups declined throughout the diurnal and winter periods, while the number of blue and great tits increased. However, sites that attracted larger groups of these heterospecifics also attracted more marsh tits. The results suggest that subordinate species exhibit temporal avoidance of socially and numerically dominant heterospecifics, but have limited ability for spatial avoidance, indicating that behavioural plasticity enables only a partial reduction of interspecific competition. We thank the many people who collected the data as part of the Wytham Social Networks group project between 2011 and 2014, especially Ross Crates for coordinating much of the winter fieldwork. We are very grateful to Josh A. Firth for his valuable comments on the manuscript.

Farmland practices are driving bird population decline across Europe

MIKETOMS — Fri, 12 May 2023 14:39:25 +0000

The Cuckoo cohort of 2024 takes flight!

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Rigala, S., Dakos, V., Alonso, H., Auniņš, A., Benkőe, Z., Brotons, L., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylareck, P., de Carlil, E., del Moral, J.C., Domșa, C., Escandell, V., Fontaine, B., Foppen, R., Gregory, R., Harris, S., Herrando, S., Husby, M., Leronymidou C., Jiguet, J., Kennedy, J., Klvaňová, A., Kmecl, P., Kuczyński, L. , Kurlavičius, P., Kålås J.A., Lehikoinen, A., Lindström, Å, Lorrillière, R., Moshø, C., Nellis, R., Noble, D., Eskildsen, D.P., Paquet, J-Y., Pelissié, M., Pladevall, C., Portolou, D., Reif, J., Schmid, H., Seaman, B., Szabo, Z.D., Szép, T., Florenzano, G.T., Teufelbauer, N., Trautmann, S., van Turnhout, C., Vermouzek, Z., Vikstrøm, T., Voříšek, P., Weiserbs, A. & Devictor, V. PNAS 10.1073/pnas.2216573120

Declines in European bird populations are reported for decades, but the direct effect of major anthropogenic pressures on such declines remains unquantified. Causal relationships between pressures and bird population responses are difficult to identify as pressures interact at different spatial scales and responses vary among species. Here, we uncover direct relationships between population time series of 170 common bird species, monitored at more than 20,000 sites in 28 European countries, over 37 years, and four widespread anthropogenic pressures, namely agricultural intensification, change in forest cover, urbanization, and climate change (focusing on temperature), over the last decades. We quantify the influence of each pressure on bird population time series as well as its importance relative to other pressures, and we identify the traits of most affected species. We find that agricultural intensification, in particular pesticides and fertilizer use, is the main pressure for most bird population declines, especially for invertebrate feeders. Responses to changes in forest cover, urbanization, and temperature are more species specific. Specifically, forest cover is associated with a positive effect on population dynamics, growing urbanization is associated with a negative effect on population dynamics, while temperature change has an effect on the dynamics of a large number of bird populations, the magnitude and direction of which depend on species’ thermal preferences. Our results not only confirm the pervasive and strong effects of anthropogenic pressures on common breeding birds, but also quantify the relative strength of these effects, stressing the urgent need for transformative changes in the way of inhabiting the world in European countries, if bird populations shall have a chance of recovering.

Using satellite data to assess spatial drivers of bird diversity

VIOLA.ROSS-SMITH — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:31:18 +0000

The Cuckoo cohort of 2024 takes flight!

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Hunt, M.L., Blackburn, G.A., Siriwardena, G.M., Carrasco, L. & Rowland, C.S. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation 10.1002/rse2.322 Birds are useful indicators of overall biodiversity, which continues to decline globally, despite targets to reduce its loss. The aim of this paper is to understand the importance of different spatial drivers for modelling bird distributions. Specifically, it assesses the importance of satellite-derived measures of habitat productivity, heterogeneity and landscape structure for modelling bird diversity across Great Britain. Random forest (RF) regression is used to assess the extent to which a combination of satellite-derived covariates explain woodland and farmland bird diversity and richness. Feature contribution analysis is then applied to assess the relationships between the response variable and the covariates in the final RF models. We show that much of the variation in farmland and woodland bird distributions is explained (R2 0.64–0.77) using monthly habitat-specific productivity values and landscape structure (FRAGSTATS) metrics. The analysis highlights important spatial drivers of bird species richness and diversity, including high productivity grassland during spring for farmland birds and woodland patch edge length for woodland birds. The feature contribution provides insight into the form of the relationship between the spatial drivers and bird richness and diversity, including when a particular spatial driver affects bird richness positively or negatively. For example, for woodland bird diversity, the May 80th percentile Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for broadleaved woodland has a strong positive effect on bird richness when NDVI is >0.7 and a strong negative effect below. If relationships such as these are stable over time, they offer a useful analytical tool for understanding and comparing the influence of different spatial drivers.

Landsat data courtesy of US Geological Survey. The authors are thankful to all the volunteers and professional ecologists who collected bird, habitat and vegetation data in Countryside Survey (CS) and to CEH and BTO staff who co-ordinated the survey and data collation.

MH was funded by Lancaster University through a Lancaster Environment Centre PhD Studentship as part of the Graduate School for the Environment. CR, LC and MH were funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) National Capability award NE/N018125/1 ASSIST—Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems www.assist.ceh.ac.uk. ASSIST is an initiative jointly supported by NERC and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Species information

WEBSITEEDITOR — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:28:57 +0000

This page explains which information is provided in the summary section at the top of each species page in BirdFacts.

English name

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In the largest font, you will find the species’ common name, as regularly used in the UK. Increasingly, there is a move towards 'standardised' English names, which usually means adding appropriate epithets to the more commonly used colloquial names (e.g. Avocet becomes Pied Avocet, to distinguish it from other Avocet species).

In general, BTO follows the taxonomy and species naming conventions recommended by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC, version 13.1) except where these deviate significantly from names in common usage in the UK.

Scientific name

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Below the English name is the species’ scientific name, shown in italics. The scientific name is followed by the name of the person who first described the species with a scientific name (and the year the description was published).

Scientific names comprise two parts: a generic name, which refers to a small group of closely related species, and a specific name. Together, these two names uniquely identify the species.

Species Codes

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Next come a series of codes used to succinctly describe the species. These short-hand codes are useful for recording observations in the field, and later for entering and storing data in databases. Using standardised codes also helps to ensure compatibility between different recording systems, which means data can be exchanged between individuals and organisations seamlessly.

BTO and partners use three main coding systems:

BTO 2 Letter Code: this is designed primarily for use in the field as a quick way of recording a species on maps. For common species the second 'letter' is a dot to represent a blank space, e.g. Blackbird is 'B.'. As there are a relatively limited number of combinations possible, codes are only available for species regularly occurring in the UK.
BTO 5 Letter Code: this code is used primarily by the British and Irish Ringing Scheme. It provides a code for each species occurring in the UK, plus those that breed in Europe as listed by the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. In general, the code is formed from the first three letters of the first name and the first two letters of the second name (e.g. BEArded TIt is BEATI), or the first five letters of a single word name (e.g. GOLDFinch is GOLDF) but there are some exceptions. For example, Blackbird's code is BLABI, not BLACK.
EURING Code: this is a numeric code used by ringing schemes throughout Europe for data exchange. Each species is assigned a five-digit number. The last digit is generally zero; this reserves it for different subspecies, so when a taxon is elevated to species rank there is no need to change the whole number. You can find more information on the EURING website.

Bird order and family

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Lastly, in the species heading information, we provide the ‘order’ and ‘family’ in which the species is currently classified. Orders and families are part of the hierarchy which is used to classify all living organisms. Each order is made up of several families, and each family is made up of several genera (the plural of genus). The genus a bird belongs to determines its generic name.

References

Parkin, D.T. & Knox, A.G. (2010) The status of birds in Britain & Ireland. Christopher Helm, London.

Ryevitalise – Bats and Ancient Trees: 2022 Report

MIKETOMS — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:30:07 +0000

The Cuckoo cohort of 2024 takes flight!

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Newson, S.E., Harris, G.T. & Panter, T.L. 978-1-912642-44-1 Acoustic PipelineDesigning effective survey and sampling protocols for passive acoustic monitoring as part of the national bat monitoringThe acoustic identification of small terrestrial mammals in Britain

The Chris Mead Library

WEBSITEEDITOR — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 09:48:45 +0000

BTO’s Chris Mead Library contains one of the finest collections of books on birds and the science of ornithology anywhere in the world.

The Library has four key focus areas:

British and Irish ornithology
County and local materials including Bird Reports
The ornithology of the Western Palaearctic, Africa, and the rest of the world
Ornithological and other relevant scientific journals

Explore the Catalogue

Find out more about the history of the Library and its development since 1936.

Read more about our collections, and our commitment to sharing these, in our policies:

Visiting the Library

The Chris Mead Library is situated in the chapel of the old Nunnery at BTO Headquarters in Thetford and is normally open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

Everyone with an interest in ornithology is welcome, but as space is limited, please email library [at] bto.org or phone us on +44 (0)1842 750050 to arrange your visit.

Wheelchair access and facilities are available, and there is lift access to the Library.
There is a free car park for visitors.
Library Access Policy

Getting here

Why is BTO's Library named after Chris Mead?

The library was named in memory of Chris Mead, one of BTO's greatest ornithologists, in August 2006.

Borrowing from the Library

BTO and Garden BirdWatch members can borrow up to three items for a maximum of three months.

We can post borrowed books to members, and these will be sent with a slip indicating the date by which they should be returned.

Explore the Catalogue

If you're not a member yet, it's quick and easy to join. Become a Garden Birdwatch member or a full BTO member today.

Borrowing by post and overseas

Please note that members borrowing books by post will be required to cover the cost of outbound postage, with an invoice being enclosed with the book.

This should be paid on receipt by bank transfer within 30 days of the date on the invoice.

Items on loan are not permitted to be taken overseas.
We're not able to lend to members living overseas.

Coffee-area-10-(bottom-of-Library-stairs---Nicki-Read).jpg

BTO Library, The Nunnery (Thetford): a quiet and relaxing place to read and research.

Information for publishers about book reviews

BTO staff reviews of new releases can be found in the Book Reviews section of our website and in our members’ magazine, BTO News.

Publishers are welcome to contact us via library [at] bto.org about reviewing material that falls within one of the focus areas of the Chris Mead Library:

British and Irish ornithology
County and local materials such as bird reports
The ornithology of the Western Palaearctic, Africa, and the rest of the world
Ornithological and other relevant scientific journals

Please see our Collections policy for more information about our acquisitions process:

Library Collections Policy

Contact the Library and Archives

The Chris Mead Library and the Archives are normally open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

Everyone with an interest in ornithology is welcome, but space is limited so please contact us first to arrange your visit.

A lift and wheelchair access and facilities are available, and there's also a free car park for visitors.

By email:

library [at] bto.org
archives [at] bto.org

By phone:

+44 (0)1842 750050

Getting here

British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU