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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Reduced breeding success in Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus due to harness-mounted GPS device
Author: Langlois Lopez, S., Clewley, G.D., Johnston, D.T., Daunt, F., Wildon, J.M., O'Hanlon, N.J. & Masden, E.
Published: 2023
Great Black-backed Gulls can be negatively affected by harness-mounted GPS devices. This research reveals a reduction in breeding success among tagged birds compared to control groups.
13.06.23
Papers

Sunning in Yellow Bishops Euplectes capensis
Author: Oschadleus, H.D. & Boersch-Supan, P.H.
Published: 2023
Two photographic records of a Yellow Bishop apparently sunning, at the West Coast National Park, South Africa, are described. There are very few records of sunning in weavers, and this is the first record for this species.
05.06.23
Papers

Ecological barriers mediate spatio-temporal shifts of bird communities at a continental scale
Author: Marjakangas, E.-L., Bosco, L., Versluijs, M., Xu, Y., Santangeli, A., Holopainen, S., Mäkeläinen, S., Herrando, S., Keller, V., Voříšek, P., Brotons, L., Johnston, A., Princé, K., Willis, S.G., Aghababyan, K., Ajder, V., Balmer, D.E., Bino, T., Boyla, K.A., Chodkiewicz, T., del Moral, J.C., Mazal, V.D., Ferrarini, A., Godinho, C., Gustin, M., Kalyakin, M., Knaus, P., Kuzmenko, T., Lindström, Å., Maxhuni, Q., Molina, B., Nagy, K., Radišić, D., Rajkov, S., Rajković, D.Z., Raudoniki, L., Sjeničić, J., Stoychev, S., Szép, T., Teufelbauer, N., Ursul, S., van Turnhout, C.M., Velevski, M., Vikstrøm, T., Wilk, T., Voltzit, O., Øien, I.J., Sudfeldt, C., Gerlach, B. & Lehikoinen, A.
Published: 2023
Ecological barriers, such as mountain ranges, might reduce the ability of species and communities to respond to climate change by shifting their distributions, something that is explored in this study.
30.05.23
Papers

Drivers of the changing abundance of European birds at two spatial scales
Author: Gregory, R.D., Eaton, M.A., Burfield, I.J., Grice, P.V., Howard, C., Klvaňová, A., Noble, D., Šilarová, E., Staneva, A., Stephens, P.A., Willis, S.G., Woodward, I.D. & Burns, F.
Published: 2023
Understanding how human activities drive biodiversity change at different spatial scales is a key question for conservation practitioners and decision-makers. While we have a good understanding of the primary causes of observed biodiversity declines – which include land-use change, climate change, pollution, and the over-exploitation of species – we still struggle to measure and detect biodiversity change in robust and meaningful ways.
29.05.23
Papers

The Breeding Bird Survey 2022
Author: Heywood, J.J.N., Massimino, D., Balmer, D.E., Kelly, L., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Woodcock, P., Wotton, S., Gillings, S. & Harris, S.J.
Published: 2023
25.05.23
Reports BBS Report
