BTO create and publish a variety of important articles, papers, journals and other publications, independently and with our partners, for organisations, government and the private sector. Some of our publications (books, guides and atlases) are also available to buy in our online shop.
Annual report of the Seabird Monitoring Programme
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2023
This report presents the latest seabird population trends in breeding abundance and productivity using data from the Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP).
The report documents changes in the abundance and productivity of breeding seabird species in Britain and Ireland from 1986 to 2023, and provides a detailed account of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons.
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Multi-species spatially-explicit indicators reveal spatially structured trends in bird communities
Author: Massimino, D., Johnston, A., Noble, D.G. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W.
Published: 2015
The BTO/RSPB/JNCC Breeding Bird Survey is the primary source of information about changes in national populations of over 100 bird species. Here we describe analyses of this dataset which has identified important spatial variation in population indicators, highlighting previously unreported declines in habitat specialists in southern and eastern Britain.
01.01.15
Reports
The effectiveness of protected areas in the conservation of species with changing geographical ranges
Author: Gillingham, P. K., Bradbury, R. B., Roy, D. B., Anderson, B. J., Baxter, J. M., Bourn, N. A. D., Crick, H. Q. P., Findon, R. A., Fox, R., Franco, A., Hill, J. K., Hodgson, J. A., Holt, A. R., Morecroft, M. D., O'Hanlon, N. J., Oliver, T. H., Pearce-Higgins, J. W., Procter, D. A., Thomas, J. A., Walker, K. J., Walmsley, C. A., Wilson, R. J. and Thomas, C. D.
Published: 2015
01.01.15
Papers
Flexibility in the timing of post-breeding moult in passerines in the UK
Author: Morrison, C. A., Baillie, S. R., Clark, J. A., Johnston, A., Leech, D. I., Robinson, R. A.
Published: 2015
BTO research has used information collected by bird ringers to investigate large-scale differences and flexibility in the timing of feather moult across 15 passerine species that breed in the UK. Different moult strategies were found between migrant and resident species, alongside within-species regional variation in moulting schedules.
01.01.15
Papers
Modelling the abundance and distribution of marine birds accounting for uncertain species identification
Author: Johnston, A., Thaxter, C.B., Austin, G.E., Cook, A.S.C.P., Humphreys, E.M., Still, D.A., Mackay, A., Irvine, R., Webb, A. & Burton, N.H.K.
Published: 2015
Aerial surveys that capture high quality photos are increasingly being used to monitor bird populations, but these images are not always good enough to identify birds to species-level. A new study led by the BTO investigates how best to resolve this issue.
01.01.15
Papers
Drivers of climate change impacts on bird communities
Author: Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Eglington, S.M., Martay, B. & Chamberlain, D.E.
Published: 2015
While we have good evidence of climate change impacts on birds, there is still a lot to learn about the specific climatic drivers behind these observed changes. Data from long-running monitoring schemes can be used to determine how bird populations respond to temperature and rainfall changes.
01.01.15
Papers
