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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Avoidance of offshore wind farms by Sandwich Terns in the North Sea increases with turbine density
Author: van Bemmelen, R.A., Leemans, J.J., Collier, M.P., Green, R.M.W., Middelveld, R.P., Thaxter, C.B. & Fijn, R.C.
Published: 2023
Offshore wind energy is considered an essential part of humanity’s transition away from fossil fuels, but it is important to understand the consequences that wind farms can have for wildlife. In this study, GPS data revealed how breeding Sandwich Terns avoid offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
18.10.23
Papers

Combining remote sensing and tracking data to quantify species’ cumulative exposure to anthropogenic change
Author: Buchan, C., Gilroy, J.J., Catry, I., Hewson, C.M., Atkinson, P.W. & Franco, A.M.A
Published: 2023
Many long-distance migratory bird species are experiencing severe population declines. These declines are being caused by human-driven changes, such as habitat loss and climate change, but the relative severity of these varies in space and time. Understanding this variation is key to understanding where species might be most exposed to population-limiting effects. This study used 10 years’ worth of satellite data from birds tagged as part of the BTO Cuckoo Tracking Project alongside data on human impacts on the environment (including the location of infrastructure, habitat change and climate change) collected via remote sensing to address these information gaps.
09.10.23
Papers

Strategic study of collision risk for birds on migration and further development of the stochastic collision risk modelling tool (Work Package 1: Strategic review of birds on migration in Scottish waters)
Author: Woodward, I.D., Franks, S.E., Bowgen, K., Davies, J.G., Green, R.M.W., Griffin, L.R., Mitchell, C., O’Hanlon, N., Pollock, C., Rees, E.C., Tremlett, C., Wright, L. & Cook, A.S.C.P.
Published: 2023
Report by British Trust for Ornithology, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and ECO-LG to The Scottish Government, Crown Estate Scotland and The Crown Estate.
01.10.23
Reports Research reports

State of Nature report 2023
Author: Burns, F., Mordue, S., al Fulaij, N., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Boswell, J., Boyd, R.J., Bradfer-Lawrence, T., de Ornellas, P., de Palma, A., de Zylva, P., Dennis, E.B., Foster, S., Gilbert, G., Halliwell, L., Hawkins, K., Haysom, K.A., Holland, M.M., Hughes, J., Jackson, A.C., Mancini, F., Mathews, F., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Noble, D.G., O’Brien, D., Pescott, O.L., Purvis, A., Simkin, J., Smith, A., Stanbury, A.J., Villemot, J., Walker, K.J., Walton, P., Webb, T.J., Williams, J., Wilson, R. & Gregory, R.D.
Published: 2023
The State of Nature 2023 report documents how human impacts are driving sweeping changes in wildlife in the UK. As well as an overarching assessment of UK flora and fauna, there are separate reports for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to look at each country in more depth. The reports pool data and expertise from more than 60 nature conservation and research organisations, a partnership unparalleled in UK conservation.
28.09.23
Reports State of Nature

LifeCycle - Issue 12, Summer 2023
Author: BTO / Multiple
Published: 2023
Celebrates 50 years of monitoring at Treswell Wood in Nottinghamshire and introduces a new duck-ringing project. It also contains articles on Redshank and Dunnock nest finding as well as guidance on accessing funding.
13.09.23
Magazines Lifecycle
