What does the survey entail?

The survey involves two early-morning spring visits to a local 1-km square, to count all the birds you see or hear while walking two 1-km lines across the square.

• Read the full instructions here

Survey sites are pre-selected from a list of random 1-km squares, so it is likely that you will need to drive to your square.

You will need to record the habitat of your square. You can optionally record mammals and visit your square later in the season to survey for butterflies.

• All volunteers receive a set of recording forms.
• You can send your completed forms to your Regional Organiser, or submit your data on BBS Online.

What skills are required?

You don’t need to be an expert to take part, but you need to be able to identify the common birds you are likely to encounter on a BBS square near you, by sight and sound. However note that upland squares typically contain smaller numbers of birds, of fewer species, and are a high priority for increased volunteer coverage. The BTO also runs a number of training courses.

How are my results used?

BBS bird population trends are published in the annual BBS report, sent to all volunteers. BBS data and trends are widely used in bird research and conservation.

How do I get involved?

Find a BBS square to monitor 

The Breeding Bird Survey is carried out on transects in fixed squares across the UK. To take part in BBS, you need to be able to visit and survey one of these fixed squares each year. 

To get started, please browse our map of BBS squares. There are highlighted 10-km squares containing the 1-km Breeding Bird Survey squares. You can navigate using the onscreen controls or by selecting a BTO Region from the dropdown box on the top right. 

Register your interest in a BBS square

Once you have found a vacant square, you can register your interest in surveying it via the map of BBS squares:

• Select a 10-km square on the map.
• Complete the form that will appear - this will send an email to the BTO Regional Organiser for that 10-km square.
• The Regional Organiser will get in touch to talk to you about the survey and squares available before allocating a square to you.

Register with the Breeding Bird Survey online portal

Once you have been allocated the square, you will need to register with 'BBS Online'. This is an online portal where you view and enter your survey data, access lots of helpful resources and find contact details for your Regional Organiser. 

If you already have a MyBTO account: 

• Log in to MyBTO
• Then look for the Breeding Bird Survey under "Sign Up for Projects" and click "Register".

If you don't have a MyBTO account: 

• Create a free MyBTO account
• Then look for the Breeding Bird Survey under "Sign Up for Projects" and click "Register".

Become one of our 'Upland Rovers'

Help increase coverage in our upland squares with one-off visits to our 'Upland Rover' squares. Many volunteers do these visits while on holiday to different parts of the UK. Upland Rover squares only require a single visit, with no commitment to repeat the survey next year. 

• Become one of our 'Upland Rovers'.

Annual timeline of volunteer activities

• February – March Forms sent or downloaded, depending on individual preferences stated on BBS Online, under 'Details and Settings'
• March – Optional reconnaissance visit to check access, routes and to record habitat data
• Early April – mid May Early season BBS visit
• Mid May – late June – Late season BBS visit, at least four weeks after Early visit
• May – August – optional Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey on BBS squares: minimum of two visits between July and August, ten days apart
• End of August – Data entry deadline via on BBS Online or forms sent to Regional Organsier

Other questions?

See our Frequently Asked Questions