BTO - British Trust for Ornithology - Volunteer voices

A BTO Bird Camp bonanza

WEBSITEEDITOR — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 11:31:41 +0000

Following a great summer of Bird Camps, our campers, Youth volunteers and BTO staff share their experiences and thanks with the wider public.

Bird Camp staff, volunteers and campers

SOC/BTO Scottish Bird Camp

Buoyed by the success of the first-ever Scottish Bird Camp in 2022, the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) and BTO were excited to launch Bird Camp 2023, which took place over the weekend of 26–28 May.

Once again, we based the camp in East Lothian, and campers began to arrive late on Friday afternoon – all tooled up with binoculars, scopes and cameras (so many cameras!) – to get settled into the accommodation.

Perhaps miraculously, we enjoyed superb weather for the whole weekend and all the planned activities could go ahead! It was an action-packed weekend which included moth trapping, arts and crafts, nest monitoring, a boat trip to Bass Rock, building bird boxes, a ringing demonstration and a nature walk at the coast.

Our huge thanks go to the group of amazing young people who joined us for the weekend. They did everything with great enthusiasm and were always keen to learn more. They were great company and we’re sure we’ll be seeing them again in the future!

Thanks also to all our volunteer leaders, and everyone who helped make it such a special weekend.

Steve Willis – Scottish Bird Camp lead for BTO Scotland

Read more about the SOC/BTO Bird Camp 2023 on the SOC Blog.

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The SOC/BTO Bird Camp was made possible by the generous support of our funders:

The family of Ronald Guild - teacher, environmental activist, lifelong lover of nature and of all things East Lothian
The Cameron Bespolka Trust
The British Birds Charitable Trust
Anonymous SOC Lothian Branch members

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Bird Camp Wales

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On 16–18 June, I attended BTO Bird Camp Wales for the second year in a row, in Pembrokeshire. There were a lot of old faces and friends there, but also some new people who came. It was lovely to see everyone again in person because I have only been in contact via WhatsApp since last year. My friends at school don’t have the same interests as me so I love bird camp because it lets me make friends with people who do.

I loved every minute of bird camp but here are my favourite bits:

The places: Some of these are amazing! We went to places like Skomer Island and Stack Rocks. At these places, we saw some of the star species like Puffins, Guillemots, Peregrines and Manx Shearwaters.

The food: There was lovely food back at camp that the volunteers had made for dinner and lunch. My favourite food was the chilli on the first night there.

I loved bird camp with all my heart and hope to go again next year. Thank you to all the staff for making it a blast for me and everyone else.

The staff: The volunteers working with us were beyond wonderful and I learnt so much from them. I hope to work with them in the future again. Faye and Chris (BTO Youth staff) who ran the camp were as wonderful as the volunteers and I hope to meet them again next year.

I would talk about the bad bits of bird camp – but there are none! I loved bird camp with all my heart and hope to go again next year. Thank you to all the staff for making it a blast for me and everyone else.

Henry (12) – Bird Camp Wales camper

Read more about Bird Camp Wales 2023 >

Bird Camp England

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Summarising the Bird Camp experience is as difficult as resisting the temptation to raise your binoculars when you’re there. I had an incredible experience as a camper in 2022, and this was mirrored for me in 2023, when I found myself on the other side of the experience as a youth volunteer. I loved seeing lifelong memories being made and new friendships forming, just as I had experienced the year prior.

We had fifteen enthusiastic and knowledgeable campers who each had their own creative flair. I particularly enjoyed seeing the campers working on exhibition pieces for parents and guardians to see at the end of the weekend. These included paintings of habitats, nature journalling, and even acrostic poems! Our base of operations was the classroom at Flatford Mill in Suffolk where exhibition pieces (and sightings lists!) were worked on between wildlife-watching trips.

One of the many highlights of the weekend was the boat trip from Harwich Harbour. The coastal air added Little Terns, Cormorants, seals and more to the sightings lists, following on from the day before, which included the excitement of seeing Turtle Doves!

Seeing the fantastic young people all having a blast reminded me of the importance of these camps. No matter your birding knowledge or confidence level, for those two nights, Bird Camp is your home.

As well as the boat trip, campers were given insights into how to contribute to BTO science – bird ringing and point count surveys – and taking part in moth trapping and pollinator surveys. And of course, the healthy competition of the bioblitz and relaxation from the mindfulness session brought campers closer together too.

I was hugely grateful for the England Bird Camp after I attended as a camper last year, for the way it opened up the world of birdwatching for me. This year, seeing the fantastic young people all having a blast reminded me of the importance of these camps. No matter your birding knowledge or confidence level, for those two nights, Bird Camp is your home.

Adam (16) – Bird Camp England 2023 Volunteer and Youth Advisory Panel Member

Read more about Bird Camp England 2023 >

Bird Camp Northern Ireland

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Where do I start? How about with the weather? I would say it rained for about 75% of the weekend. But despite this not once did I hear a young person complain. Instead, they put on their coats, grabbed their binoculars and marched out into the rain. This is the second year BTO has run a camp in Northern Ireland, and in both years I have been so inspired by the knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm the young people have for the natural world and everything it brings.

For me, the highlights of this camp include the bioblitz in Davagh Forest, archery at Gortin Activity Centre and the bird ringing demonstration run by Stephen, Sorrel and Emma. After the disappointment of having no birds at last year’s ringing demonstration, it was amazing to catch 22 birds this year. The team was amazing and kept all the young people interested and getting to release a goldcrest is an experience I will never forget.

Bird Camp also happened to fall on my birthday this year. A 5:30 wake up, a titanic cake decoration, 14 young people singing happy birthday, and spending 3 hours in the rain sums up one of the stranger birthdays I’ve had, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

I have been so inspired by the knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm the young people have for the natural world and everything it brings.

Each year, I’ve taken something different away from Bird Camp. Last year I learned never to treat a bird as if it’s boring. Doesn’t matter how common you think it is, to someone else it could be the most exciting bird they’ve seen all year.

This year, I learnt how to adapt to changing circumstances and be flexible and how to prepare for and run a session of my own. Most of all, I learned that there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing. Oh, and I’m also apparently amazing at archery!

Benjamin – Bird Camp Northern Ireland 2023 volunteer, Youth Representative for Northern Ireland and Mental Health & Mindfulness (MMH) project participant

Read more about Bird Camp Northern Ireland 2023 >

BTO Bird Camps in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are made possible thanks to the support of the Cameron Bespolka Trust.

Young people are the future of BTO

With your help, we can reach more young people through events like Bird Camp.

Donate to the BTO Youth Appeal today

2 August 2023

Following a great summer of Bird Camps, our campers, Youth volunteers and BTO staff share their experiences and thanks with the wider public.

BTO Youth Appeal 24 Aug 2023

Connecting birding communities through our Regional Network

WEBSITEEDITOR — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 15:02:09 +0000

In the third and final Regional Network miniseries blog , we spoke to three of our volunteers who have formed strong connections with other birdwatching groups and communities. No Robert Chapman, Murray Orchard and Eve Tigwell BTO Regional Network volunteers

Read our other Regional Network miniseries blog posts:

Robert Chapman: Regional Representative (York)

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I’m the Regional Representative for the ‘Yorkshire York’ region of BTO – that’s effectively the Vale of York, which is mainly lowland, with only a few hills in the northern reaches.

My survey year starts with contacting regular surveyors for the annual surveys to make sure sites are still covered. I then contact potential surveyors who might take on any sites where people have dropped out. Later in the season, I get queries from surveyors who may have come across problems in the field – for instance, new access issues such as vegetation growth, fields full of cows or even landowner difficulties – or need advice on methods.

I try to get a newsletter written towards the end of the year, with the help of BTO staff. It’s a good way of giving a local angle on the work to our members, supporters and surveyors. I’m also on the committee of the local bird club in York, which helps spread the word, and encourage people to become volunteers and hopefully members. I also use Twitter, which is an interactive means of reaching a wider audience.

I must thank all surveyors for taking part. It’s really rewarding to talk to people about the work of BTO, to encourage new people to join in and to help them gain confidence to take something on. It makes me feel like I’m contributing to the understanding of the changes that are going on with our bird populations, and it’s fantastic to see the community of people supporting the work of BTO grow.

It’s really rewarding to talk to people about the work of BTO, to encourage new people to join in and to help them gain confidence to take something on... it’s fantastic to see the community of people supporting the work of BTO grow. Robert Chapman, BTO Regional Representative (York)

Murray Orchard: Heronries Census Local Organiser (Hertfordshire) and counter (Kent)

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Alongside volunteering for several other BTO surveys, I’m also involved in the Heronries Census.

In Hertfordshire, I’m the Local Organiser, coordinating coverage for 12 sites across the county. A loyal bunch of counters survey these sites each year, leaving me to just chase up and approve or validate the data. In Kent, however, the boot is on the other foot and I’m one of those doing the counting!

The site I help to count is RSPB Northward Hill, which hosts one of the largest heronries in the UK. The Grey Herons now nest in oak trees, but originally did so in elm trees, before they succumbed to Dutch elm disease.

The majority of the oak trees are numbered in and around the heronry: 144 of them! The task is to visit each tree and log the number of heron nests. Judging the number of active nests is not always easy, especially with Kent’s largest rookery sharing many of the same trees.

The Heronry Census counts here are often shared with RSPB reserve interns, and provides great insight for them into the breeding habits of the herons and egrets. Last year a university student and her tutor collected and analysed heron pellets for her degree, and the published results made for fascinating reading.

The Heronry Census counts are often shared with RSPB reserve interns, and provides great insight for them into the breeding habitats of herons and egrets, as well as survey methodology.Murray Orchard, Heronries Census Local Organiser (Hertfordshire) and counter (Kent)

Eve Tigwell: Regional Representative (Somerset)

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Being a Regional Representative is great fun! You get to meet and work with fantastically committed people whilst improving everyone’s knowledge of wildlife in general, and of birds in particular. What more could you ask for?

A network made up of fellow volunteers and staff is essential to the BTO’s overall ethos of ‘Birds, Science, People’; a triumvirate that supports so many conservation initiatives. Without all the wonderfully enthusiastic and skilled surveyors who go out and collect data, there would be little evidence of the fall, and occasional rise, in our bird populations; and no evidence to support theories on why these changes are occurring. Without data, the talented and committed BTO staff wouldn’t be able to turn those data into reports about changes and theories. Between these two essential sectors stands the Regional Representative: a conduit for communication, a recruiter of surveyors, a mentor for other volunteers, and a data-checker.

If this all sounds a bit much, it isn’t! As a one-person team, I spend the bulk of my time communicating with existing surveyors and recruiting new ones for any gaps in all the surveys; this is achieved mainly through emails and newsletters, although some individuals appreciate a chat on the phone occasionally.

I’m fortunate that my region has a supportive county bird club (Somerset Ornithological Society), whose committee I have joined, and I am able to advertise surveys on their website. The annual Somerset Gathering (pre-COVID-19) was a great opportunity to meet up with surveyors, and for them to meet each other; the discussion session, with tea and cakes, always required more time than the presentations!

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RSPB Greylake reserve in Somerset.

The annual Somerset Gathering was a great opportunity to meet up with surveyors, and for them to meet each other; the discussion session, with tea and cakes, always required more time than the presentations!Eve Tigwell, BTO Regional Representative (Somerset)

Towards the end of the main survey season, there’s a need to check all those data, not to question surveyors’ ID skills (they’re brilliant!), but to weed out any typing errors that the computer system hasn’t picked up (did you really see a Stone Curlew on the Levels?).

Where’s the fun in all that? It’s in meeting, working with and supporting so many amazing, like-minded people who have a common aim, and being involved in something to do with birds!

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 >

Looking for more inspiration? Read the first post in our Regional Network miniseries, where three of our volunteers explain why they got involved.

2 August 2023

Our Regional Network is made up of a group of our wonderful volunteers who represent BTO in their local areas, coordinating surveys and supporting other volunteers.

In the third and final Regional Network miniseries blog, we spoke to three of our volunteers who have formed strong connections with other birdwatching groups and communities: Robert Chapman and Eve Tigwell, who link BTO to their local bird clubs and societies, and Murray Orchard, who has shared his survey volunteering experience with interns and students.

22 Aug 2023 no

Fledgling volunteers and wise owls

WEBSITEEDITOR — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:38:33 +0000

In the second of our Regional Network blog miniseries, we spoke to two volunteers from across the generation divide: Neil, who has been a Regional Representative since 1995, and Naomi, who took on their Regional Representative role in their twenties, just four years ago.

No Neil Bielby and Naomi Davis BTO Regional Network volunteers

Read the first post in our Regional Network miniseries: Why become a Regional Network volunteer?

Neil Bielby: Regional Representative (Central Scotland)

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My route into birdwatching and thus BTO was a little unconventional. Although I have always been interested in the natural world, my life up until the age of 40 had been very much focused on sport and the ‘great outdoors’. All that came to an abrupt halt when I was struck down with what was eventually diagnosed as ME (chronic fatigue syndrome).

So, by necessity, my interest turned to things which didn’t require a lot of physical effort – the main one of which quickly became birds. It was by responding to a request for BTO/RSPB/JNCC Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) counters in a birding magazine in January 1994 that I became involved with bird recording.

I recced, counted and submitted data for a number of sites from then until the end of March. This ‘keenness’ resulted in being invited to take on the vacant role of Local Organiser in June 1994. I sought out new volunteers for the survey, mostly at local RSPB, Scottish Ornithologists’ Club and Scottish Wildlife Trust talks, eventually recruiting 16 counters who covered 70 sites between them during the subsequent 1994/95 WeBS core season.

The jungle telegraph was obviously working well because, out of the blue in January 1995, I received a letter from BTO asking if I’d like to fill the vacant Regional Representative position in Central Scotland. My appointment was confirmed in April.

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A Central Scotland oakwood in spring.

The BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) was then in its infancy, with just nine squares and four surveyors in 1994 (the survey’s inaugural year). The topography and habitat of BTO’s Central Scotland region are very varied, ranging from the Forth Estuary at sea level to the summit of Ben More at 1,174 m. Recruiting volunteers for survey squares in each of these environments provides its challenges because of their particular requirements – from the ID skills required for woodland surveys, especially in mature conifer plantations, to the physical fitness needed to survey in the hills. Coverage of the uplands has been greatly helped by the introduction of additional upland squares and the Upland Rovers scheme. BBS coverage has steadily increased since 1994, to a peak of 74 squares counted by 43 surveyors in 2019.

Of course, over the years there have been changes, the most beneficial of which has been the rapid development of IT. No longer is all correspondence done by snail mail; survey forms have been replaced by online submission; and the recruitment of counters and surveyors has been greatly aided by online and email advertising.

As the years have passed, the interaction and involvement with general bird recording in the area have also increased. This was greatly boosted by the opening of the BTO Scotland office at the University of Stirling in 2002, and its close, symbiotic relationship with the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club.

Writing this blog, as this year’s BBS fieldwork has tailed off, is a reminder of the seasonal patterns in the life of a Regional Representative. The next major fieldwork is of course the core WeBS season which runs from September to March, and which many Regional Representatives also organise in their area.

This is necessarily just a brief résumé of both the role and changes in the life of a Regional Representative during the past 30 years. But the fact that I’m still ‘in post’ is not just a reflection of how enjoyable the role is, but also, how rewarding.

The fact that I’m still ‘in post’ is not just a reflection of how enjoyable the role is, but also, how rewarding. Neil Bielby, BTO Regional Representative (Central Scotland)

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The view of Loch Lubnaig shows many of the varied habitats in Central Scotland.

Naomi Davis: Regional Representative (Cardigan/Ceredigion)

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Like many BTO volunteers with a love of birdwatching, I started out my volunteering journey by submitting my sightings to BirdTrack. In 2018, I took over two BBS squares and a heronry, as part of the BTO Heronries Census. A few months later I began as the Heronries Local Organiser, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the surveying and the ‘behind-the-scenes’ organisation. I was keen to get more involved, and within a year I had taken on the role of Regional Representative!

In my county (Cardiganshire/Ceredigion), my role as Regional Representative is quite varied. The area I cover is mostly rural with a small population that’s concentrated in the north and south. In these more populated areas, most surveys are very well covered, but it’s been difficult to drum up interest for surveys in more remote areas. To advertise the breadth of volunteering opportunities available with BTO, I often put on talks and bird walks for local groups, and I try to maintain an active presence on social media.

I’ve found that social media is a great way to interact with people of all ages, and is especially important for my role because my county includes two university towns – the main one being Aberystwyth. Trying to engage students is quite a challenge, as many go home for the holidays and disappear completely once their course finishes. Most students are also entirely absent for the spring and summer months, so BBS and nest recording are difficult to promote. As a result, I’ve had to tailor my engagement to suit the student schedule, and I’ve found that WeBS is perfect for this. Over the past year, the Aberystwyth University Ornithological Society has taken up the monthly count at a coastal site within walking distance of town, and they’ve recorded some brilliant birds including Chough, Mediterranean Gull and Purple Sandpiper.

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Naomi leading a guided bird walk.

When I started as Regional Representative, having just graduated from university, I was one of the youngest people in the Regional Network team. As a result, I was in a great position to understand how important young people are to the conservation effort. Thanks to Kelvin Jones (who has recently retired as Development Officer for BTO Cymru), Aberystwyth University has had its own Student Ambassador for almost a decade, and this has been essential in connecting BTO with the wider student community through amazing experiences like bird ringing demonstrations.

I’m now 30, and edging out of my official ‘youth’ status. But I’m pleased to say that I’m already noticing the impacts of the BTO Youth team’s focused effort to engage young people across the UK. Students are now arriving at university with a knowledge of BTO, and sometimes they have some surveying or ringing experience under their belt already!

I feel so fortunate to be part of the BTO Regional Network team. I’m looking forward to working on the goals of BTO’s new strategy, and giving even more young people access to the skills and knowledge that can be gained from volunteering with BTO.

I feel so fortunate to be part of the BTO Regional Network team. I’m looking forward to working on the goals of BTO’s new strategy, and giving even more young people access to the skills and knowledge that can be gained from volunteering with BTO. Naomi Davis, BTO Regional Representative (Cardigan/Ceredigion)

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 >

Looking for more inspiration? Read the first post in our Regional Network miniseries, where three of our volunteers explain why they got involved.

1 August 2023

Our wonderful volunteers come from all across the UK, bringing diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences into the BTO melting pot.

16 Aug 2023 no

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

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

Launching the new BTO Youth Engagement Strategy

WEBSITEEDITOR — Mon, 15 May 2023 13:20:30 +0000

Youth Advisory Panel member Katie Monk discusses developing BTO Youth’s new strategy, and why an inclusive environment for young people is vital for nature’s future. Yes

Katie Monk BTO Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) member Katie has always had a passion for the outdoors. She works to help break the stigma and barriers surrounding nature-based actions, encouraging more young people to appreciate and protect the natural world around them.

Birds and people

Volunteer voices

Youth voices

The BTO Youth Engagement Strategy’s primary objective is to connect with its younger supporters, acknowledge the barriers they encounter, and consider their views on how to encourage more young people to engage with BTO.

Alongside this, it aims to give young nature enthusiasts and people who may not already be engaged with nature a voice and an opportunity to learn.

The Strategy targets inspiring the next generation of birdwatchers and promoting the well-being of young people by creating accessible, youth-led opportunities to engage with nature and science.

Implementing this Strategy and executing the projects outlined within it will establish partnerships with organisations that share our vision. BTO, young people and the natural environment stand to gain mutual benefits by working together.

Looking back

Over the course of 2020, the first BTO Youth Engagement Strategy was created by 10 Youth Advisory Panel members. This Strategy was developed as a support to guide BTO Youth’s work for the period of 2021–22. Its purpose was to help us concentrate on key areas of youth engagement, while also outlining our foundational values and target demographics.

Our vision for BTO Youth was established, and we identified our priorities: constructing a youth network, interacting with schools and universities, and generating content and resources to engage with 11–25 year-olds. The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges, but initiatives like Birding 101, Nature Natters, and the Equipment Donation Scheme helped develop skills and build the confidence of young nature enthusiasts. Over 50 volunteers have now represented BTO Youth as a member of the Youth Advisory Panel or as Youth Representatives.

What is the new Strategy?

The BTO Youth Engagement Strategy 2023–28 is a wide, inclusive approach to connecting young people with nature and birdwatching. This Strategy is to be implemented from 2023 until 2028 by the Youth Advisory Panel, with the support of the Youth Representatives and staff across BTO.

BTO Youth works under six core values formed and defined by the Youth Advisory Panel for this Strategy: Inclusive & accessible, Youth-led, Helping people grow, Collaborative & transparent, Innovative & dynamic and Celebrating people’s connection to nature. Within each value, up to four core principles are outlined to ensure the development of future and existing BTO Youth programs focuses on and achieves these principles and the overarching value.

The implementation of the free youth membership, under the value of Inclusive & accessible, aims to foster a sense of community among young members, providing targeted support that caters to their unique needs and interests and aids in breaking down the financial barrier to some young people. There will also be a strong focus on mental health and mindfulness with explicit links both internally within the volunteer group and externally in the events we run, further emphasised in Celebrating people’s connection to nature.

Equipment Donation Scheme recipients.

Whilst these new initiatives will be central to the future agenda, continuing projects are just as important.

The Equipment Donation Scheme has benefitted over 2,300 people since 2021 through the donations of second-hand birdwatching equipment.

The Youth-led Youth Representative scheme, one of the core objectives of the 2021–22 Strategy, with the support of the Youth Advisory Panel, creates a community of young people across the UK engaging them with various topics through both local and online events. To Help people grow, a diverse range of events and activities pull an even stronger focus of the Strategy towards removing the barriers young people may face when becoming involved with nature conservation.

Youth in Nature Summit 2022. Alicia Hayden (YAP)

Being Innovative and dynamic involves offering online resources and training for young people, as well as providing a platform for MPhil students to undertake research which benefits both them and BTO as an organisation.

This value also accounts for amplifying youth voices, which was principally seen at the BTO Youth in Nature Summit. Looking to the future, the 2022 Summit has provided the opportunity to co-create the next Summit in partnership with other organisations, allowing us the opportunity to inspire other organisations to incorporate more young people.

Partnerships, like at the Youth in Nature Summit, can deliver conservation success stories. Outlined under Collaborative & transparent, these partnerships can allow BTO to engage diverse audiences and have shared input with a wider variety of perspectives and ideas. Whilst working with local communities, schools and other organisations, BTO can help to raise the importance of conservation and inspire other young people to get involved.

How did we create the new Strategy?

It has been an incredible opportunity over this past year to contribute to writing BTO’s Youth Engagement Strategy 2023–28.

Although the process of developing the Strategy was time-consuming, it was extremely rewarding to build a vision of an inclusive, diverse and engaged community of young people united by their love for nature. Writing the Strategy from our youth perspective allowed us to demonstrate to others how young people can make a difference, and by working in the conservation sector and being engaged with nature they can ensure their voices are represented throughout organisations and at the heart of decision–making processes.

It was challenging, as it required us to understand and reflect on all the barriers that young people might face and translate every one into an actionable vision and projects. Working against a tight deadline during exam season added to the stress to perfect this Strategy, and navigating conflicting opinions to decide certain visions and values made it difficult to finally choose parts.

However, overall, it was a fulfilling experience knowing our work will make a significant impact in engaging more young people with nature. The process of writing the Strategy was both challenging and rewarding, and I am proud to have been part of the effort to engage young people with nature and birdwatching, and I am proud to be a part of BTO Youth.

Looking forward

Our 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.

As outlined in our Strategy, BTO Youth envisions a future where a thriving and engaged community of young people with a passion for nature comes together in an inclusive and diverse environment.

Our goal is to ensure that young people have a voice in the conservation sector, and their ideas and opinions are represented in the decision-making processes of organisations. Our hope is to provide meaningful opportunities for young people to engage with the sector, and for their voices to be heard at every level.

This Strategy will shape these projects which enable us to achieve, or work towards, our vision over the next five years. We recognize the importance of diversity in the community and strive to make it a welcoming space for everyone.

By working together and empowering the next generation, we can ensure that nature is protected and conserved for generations to come.

Youth Engagement at BTO

Read the full Youth Engagement Strategy to learn more about how we’re working to create a diverse, inclusive and thriving youth community at BTO.

BTO Youth Engagement Strategy 2023–28

Did you know?

BTO Youth runs regular events for young people, in-person and online. It also has its very own BTO Youth Blog and regularly publishes updates on BTO youth engagement work.

Visit the BTO Youth Hub to stay up to date.

1 May 2023

The urgency of global challenges makes it crucial to engage young people in conservation efforts, and the BTO Youth Engagement Strategy provides a comprehensive approach to doing so.

Engagement

15 May 2023

BTO Youth

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

WEBSITEEDITOR — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 10:31:36 +0000

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

Fionnuala McCully BTO Comms Placement Student Fionnuala is an ACCE DTP PhD candidate in the Seabird Ecology Group University of Liverpool (SEGUL). She is a behavioural ecologist, studying the impacts of animal personality on Wandering Albatross and Kittiwake parental care strategies.

While writing this blog post, I have been wracking my brains, trying to decide if it is ever a bad idea to try something new. I don’t think it is: If you love ‘the new thing’, the doors which may open to you could be life-changing, and even if you hate it, well, sometimes being able to definitively classify something as ‘not-for-me’ can be a blessing.

When you are in the middle of a PhD, it can be easy to forget that ‘other things’ (in terms of both career and downtime) exist. The road is long, and because PhD research requires you to be a jack-of-all-trades (writing, coding, presenting, fieldwork – you have to do it all!), you may find yourself forgetting which activities you actually enjoy the most. Taking a break can help you remember.

After nearly three years of working on my project on parental care in seabirds, I needed a change of scenery.

Taking a step back: planning a placement

After nearly three years of working on my project on parental care in seabirds at the University of Liverpool, I needed a change of scenery.

My doctoral training partnership, ACCE, provides their PhD candidates with an opportunity to apply for three months extra funding to do something different: a placement working on something outside the confines of their PhD. This is an invaluable opportunity for early career researchers to get experience in the workplace, gain new skills and discover – or perhaps rule out! – a potential career path.

Fionnuala releasing a Kittiwake during her PhD fieldwork in Svalbard, Arctic Circle.

Fionnuala examining a Puffin while helping the Norwegian polar Institute with their population monitoring schemes in Svalbard, Arctic Circle.

From the very beginning of my time at Liverpool, I wanted to complete one of these placements. By 2022, the major constraints imposed by COVID-19 had been dissolved (so no placement-ing from home, which was not appealing to me), and I had (temporarily) had enough of quantitative data analysis. I wanted to have a go at a form of work which came more naturally to me.

Having previously been a higher education lecturer, I have always had an interest in science communication – but I didn’t want to revisit old ground via teaching. I also didn’t want to stray too far away from birds. I like birds… and I can’t really see a future where my work doesn’t involve them in some capacity.

So where could I go to complete my placement?

BTO was an obvious choice, and I was thrilled when they agreed to host. Specifically, I reached out to their Communications Team. I hoped that this department would be able to get me involved in my target activities, like writing for different audiences and gaining media experience. BTO’s dedication to science would also prevent me from straying too far from the research skills which I have spent the last 12 years developing.

Of course, I would work for my keep: in exchange for all these valuable opportunities, I would complete a project for BTO, evaluating their science communication strategies. Are BTO messages getting through to their target audiences? Between September and December 2022, it was my job to find out.

Fionnuala at the BTO Youth in Nature Summit (front left). Alicia Hayden

Joining the BTO Comms Team in Thetford

So, having departed Liverpool for a residency in Thetford, my placement began.

The Comms Team put me to work writing for BTO’s various publishing media, helping out with events such as BBC Autumnwatch and the BTO Youth in Nature Summit, and contributing to BTO’s social media. I was even given a small spot on BBC Radio Suffolk, during which I geeked out about seabirds.

In addition to her work on her Communications project, Fionnuala was able to take part in activities such as ringing.

Almost immediately, I enjoyed working for BTO. I felt right at home in a world of varying topics, fast deadlines and cooperative projects. These were working conditions I had experienced in previous employment, and which I’d missed during the singularly focussed, long-term and occasionally solitary project which is my PhD.

What is more, the organisation itself is full of the friendliest, most welcoming people you are ever likely to meet. Even before my placement had started, Head of Communications Mike Toms and Science Communications Manager Viola Ross-Smith provided me with heaps of support as I developed my placement proposal. Once I got there, they (as well as employees from every other team you can think of) did all they could to make sure I felt welcomed and valued. Plus, they all know a lot about birds and I love learning new things about birds!

In between the day-to-day jobs of the department, I chipped away at my placement project, interviewing representatives of BTO’s target audiences: wind farm developers, government agency workers, BTO Regional and Youth Representatives, museum curators, landowners, academics… Speaking with such a wide range of people was one of the best parts of my placement. I learned huge amounts about lots of different industries, engaged in some valuable networking, and also got an insight into the range of jobs available out there in the world. All of this might come in handy when I finish my PhD…

Speaking with such a wide range of people was one of the best parts of my placement – I learned huge amounts about lots of different industries.

Fionnuala attended the prestigious Marsh Awards during her placement, writing BTO’s news piece about the event.

Developing an action plan for BTO’s science communications

After I had asked my questions and collated the interviewees’ answers, it was time to translate all those conversations into something tangible that BTO can use to improve their communication strategy. As a behavioural ecologist, I will grudgingly admit that producing outputs with high applied value is not something I get to do very often. It was therefore refreshing for me to produce an action plan based on my findings, which could be put into practice immediately.

It was also a pleasure to reassure my new BTO colleagues that all the wonderful work they do is appreciated by their audience. All my interviewees had many positive things to say about BTO and the work they produce. In particular, it was clear that BTO’s evidence-based approach and the expertise of BTO staff were key selling points. There is work to do, particularly concerning the refinement of messaging and reaching key audience members, but I hope that my action plan leaves BTO in a strong position to move forward.

My placement with BTO helped me see what might lie beyond my studies. Life will continue, and when I finish, I am confident that I will be considered skilled and employable.

Taking my placement experience forwards into my PhD

In what felt like a blink of an eye, my placement was over and it was time to go back to Liverpool. My PhD was waiting for me, and it wasn’t going to finish itself – but I returned refreshed and ready to take on the new challenges it might send my way. On top of this, I could rest easy in the knowledge that I had benefited hugely from ‘trying something new’.

Opportunities at BTO

Visit our Vacancies page to explore opportunities to work, volunteer or study with us.

Vacancies and opportunities

You can also contact people [at] bto.org for more information and advice.

I am looking forward to the rest of my PhD, but my placement with BTO helped me see what might lie beyond my studies. Life will continue, and when I finish, I am confident that I will be considered skilled and employable.

If you are a student, and you think you might benefit from a break or a placement, I strongly encourage you to examine your options. If your programme offers a placement scheme, investigate it. If not, make a plan and discuss it with your supervisor and your funding body. Alternatively, reach out to other PhD students who have done something similar – the vast majority of them will be happy to advise.

I also thoroughly recommend BTO as a placement provider! The experience was second to none. When I left BTO, I was leaving with a portfolio of articles, considerable work experience and many, many new friends. Crucially, my placement reaffirmed my belief that trying something new is rarely a bad idea. In fact, it might be exactly what you need to carry you through this life stage and into the next.

Acknowledgements

A big thank you to the ACCE Doctoral training partnership for providing additional funding so that I could undertake this placement. Thanks also go to Dr Samantha Patrick for her support.
I massively appreciate the support of everyone at the BTO and thank them for being so welcoming. In particular, I thank everyone in the Science Communication Team, especially Mike Toms and Viola Ross-Smith, for all their hard work before, during and after my placement.

2 January 2023

PhD student Fionnuala McCully completed a three-month placement with the BTO Comms Team in December last year. She reflects on her time with the organisation and the benefits she experienced while stepping back from her studies.

25 Jan 2023 no