BTO Research Reports are scientific papers that have been self-published by the BTO. The following is a full list of the published BTO research reports. Most are free to download, and links to Abstracts are included where possible.
Numbers missing from the list are those allocated but which were never produced or which have not been published. BTO recognises that, particularly in respect of commercially sensitive cases, a period of confidentiality is appropriate for some projects. However, in the interests of scientific development and dissemination of information, we encourage clients to permit publication as soon as it is reasonable to do so.
- If you wish to purchase a physical copy of a report please contact researchreports@bto.org.
- More information about our Annual Service reports to JNCC 1992-2005.
Assessment of recent Hen Harrier population trends in England through population modelling
This study uses a population modelling approach to explore the effects of changes in rates of productivity, survival, and settlement on population growth in the English population of Hen Harriers.

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Seabird abundances projected to decline in response to climate change in Britain and Ireland
Author: Davies, J.G., Humphreys, E.M., Evans, T., Howells, R., O’Hara-Murray, R. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W.
Published: 2023
Britain and Ireland support globally-important numbers of breeding seabirds, but these populations are under pressure from a suite of threats, including marine pollution, habitat loss, overfishing and highly pathogenic avian influenza. Climate change introduces additional threats, the magnitude of which is uncertain in the future, making it difficult to plan how to apportion conservation efforts between seabird species. Predicting how species’ numbers could change under different climate change scenarios helps clarify their future vulnerability to extinction, and thus assists in conservation planning.
05.12.23
Papers

Ryevitalise - Bats and Ancient Trees, 2023 Report
Author: Newson, S.E. & Panter, T.L.
Published: 2023
Working with a network of volunteers, static acoustic bat detectors were deployed over a long survey season, to provide the fourth season of extensive bat data for the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership Scheme area of the North York Moors National Park. This report provides an overview of the survey coverage and main results from 2023.
05.12.23
Reports Research reports

Contrasting habitat use between and within Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew wintering on the Wash, England
Author: Pell, R.J., Clark, J.A. & Robinson, R.A.
Published: 2023
Ongoing declines have been reported for many of our wader species, and there is an urgent need to both understand the reasons for these declines and assess the effectiveness of any associated conservation action.
01.12.23
Papers

Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme Annual Report 2021 & 2022
Author: Challis, A., Beckmann, B.C., Wilson, M.W., Eaton, M.A., Stevenson, A., Stirling-Aird, P., Thornton, M. & Wilkinson, N.I.
Published: 2023
01.12.23
Reports

Analysis of Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) data for The Humber Estuary SSSI, SAC, SPA and Ramsar site: fourth appraisal — sector-level trends to winter 2021/22
Author: Bowgen, K.M., Austin, G.E., Wetherhill, A. & Woodward, I.D.
Published: 2023
This study updates previous reports that assessed population trends of waterbird species in different parts of the Humber Estuary, in order to identify areas where species were declining contrary to, or in excess of, the trend for the Humber Estuary as a whole and, furthermore, to identify sectors that support an increasing proportion of species that are declining across the Humber Estuary as a whole.
01.12.23
Reports Research reports
