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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The status of our bird populations: the fifth Birds of Conservation Concern in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and second IUCN Red List assessment of extinction risk for Great Britain
Author: Stanbury, A.J., Eaton, M.A., Aebischer, N.J., Balmer, D., Brown, A.F., Douse, A., Lindley, P., McCulloch, N., Noble, D.G. & Win, I.
Published: 2021
Commonly referred to as the UK Red List for birds, this is the fifth review of the status of birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, published in December 2021 as Birds of Conservation Concern 5 (BOCC5). This updates the last assessment in 2015. Using standardised criteria, experts from a range of bird NGOs, including BTO, assessed 245 species with breeding, passage or wintering populations in the UK and assigned each to the Red, Amber or Green Lists of conservation concern.
01.12.21
Reports Birds of Conservation Concern

Spatial and temporal differences in migration strategies among endangered European Greater Spotted Eagles Clanga clanga
Author: Väli, Ü., Dombrovski, V., Maciorowski, G., Sellis, U. & Ashton Butt, A.
Published: 2021
A new collaborative research study involving BTO has used GPS to track the movements of one of Europe’s rarest birds of prey, the Greater Spotted Eagle, shedding light on the pressures this species faces outside of the breeding season.
24.11.21
Papers

GPS tracking reveals landfill closures induce higher foraging effort and habitat switching in gulls
Author: Langley, L.P., Bearhop, S., Burton, N.H.K., Banks, A.N., Frayling, T., Thaxter, C., Clewley G., Scragg, E. & Votier, S.C.
Published: 2021
New research from a collaboration between BTO, Natural England and researchers at the University of Exeter has used GPS-tracking to investigate the movement behaviour of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in response to landfill closures. Gulls were found to increase their foraging effort and switch to alternative habitats following the loss of this important food resource.
12.11.21
Papers

Setting priorities for climate change adaptation of Critical Sites in the Africa-Eurasian waterbird flyways
Author: Breiner, F.T., Anand, M., Butchart, S.H.M., Flörke, M., Fluet-Chouinard, E., Guisan, A., Hilarides, L., Jones, V.R., Kalyakin, M., Lehner, B., Leeuwen, M., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Voltzit, O. & Nagy, S.
Published: 2021
09.11.21
Papers
Better utilisation and transparency of bird data collected by powerline companies
Author: Kettel, E., Thaxter, C.B., Oppel, S., Carryer, A., Innis, L. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W.
Published: 2021
New BTO research has examined the extent to which data on avian electrocutions and collisions are collected by companies responsible for high-voltage powerlines across Europe, and made recommendations to develop best practice.
08.11.21
Papers
