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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Extreme uncertainty and unquantifiable bias do not inform population sizes
Author: Robinson, O.J., Socolar, J.B., Stuber, E.F., Auer, T., Berryman, A.J., Boersch-Supan, P., Brightsmith, D.J., Burbridge, D.J., Burbridge, A.H., Butchart, S.H.M., Davis, C.L., Dokter, A.M., Di Giacomo, A.S., Farnsworth, A., Fink, D., Hochachka, W.M., Holwell, P.E., La Sprte, F.A., Lees, A.C., Marsden, S., Martin, R., Martin, R.O., Masello, J.F., Miller, E.T., Moodley, Y., Musgrove, A., Noble, D., Ojeda, V., Quillfeldt, P., Royle, J.A., Ruiz-Gutierrez, V., Tella, J.L., Yorio, P., Youngflesh, C. & Johnston, A.
Published: 2022
BTO staff co-author a rebuttal letter setting out the importance of the careful use and interpretation of citizen science data in estimating avian population sizes.
28.02.22
Papers

Nesting dates of Moorland Birds in the English, Welsh and Scottish Uplands
Author: Wilson, M.W., Fletcher, K., Ludwig, S.C. & Leech, D.I.
Published: 2022
Rotational burning of vegetation is a common form of land management in UK upland habitats, and is restricted to the colder half of the year, with the time period during which burning may be carried out in upland areas varying between countries. In England and Scotland, this period runs from the 1st October to 15th April, but in the latter jurisdiction, permission can be granted to extend the burning season to 30th April. In Wales, this period runs from 1st October to 31st March.This report sets out timing of breeding information for upland birds in England, Scotland and Wales, to assess whether rotational burning poses a threat to populations of these species, and the extent to which any such threat varies in space and time.
17.02.22
Reports Research reports

Impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on capacity to monitor bird populations: a case study using the UK Breeding Bird Survey
Author: Gillings, S., Balmer, D.E., Harris, S.J., Massimino, D. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W.
Published: 2022
Like many things, long-term monitoring of bird populations was interrupted during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Here, BTO scientists look at the effects of restrictions on participation in the Breeding Bird Survey during 2020 compared to previous years, and devise analytical methods to overcome the issues that emerged.
07.02.22
Papers Bird Study

Bailiwick Bat Survey: 2021 Report
Author: Newson, S.E., Allez, S.L., Coule, E.K., Gillings, S., Harper, J., Henney, J.M., Higgins, L., Simmons, M.C., Sweet, E., Whitelegg, D. & Atkinson, P.W
Published: 2022
This report presents the main findings from survey work delivered using passive acoustic monitoring devices deployed across the Bailiwick of Guernsey in 2021, the first season of the Bailiwick Bat Survey, including the first extensive baseline data for bats for the islands of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark.
07.02.22
Reports

An assessment of relative habitat use as a metric for species’ habitat association and degree of specialization
Author: O'Reilly, E., Gregory, R.D., Aunins, A., Brotons, L., Chodkiewicz, T., Escandell, V., Foppen, R.P.B., Gamero, A., Herrando, S., Jiguet, F., Kålås, J.A., Kamp, J., Klvaňová, A., Lehikoinen, A., Lindström, Å., Massimino, D., Jostein Øien, I., Reif, J., Šilarová, E., Teufelbauer, N., Trautmann, S., van Turnhout, C., Vikstrøm, T., Voříšek, P. & Butler, S.J.
Published: 2022
02.02.22
Papers