Welcome to the BTO

Looking out for birds? Share your interest in birds with others by being part of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Volunteer surveyors, members and staff work in partnership to provide unbiased information about birds and their habitats. Join or volunteer today and make birds count.

Return migration is under way

July is a fantastic month for birding. Some species will have already finished breeding and will be making their way south with this years offspring to their wintering grounds. This can bring lots of rare and exciting birds to the UK, particularly around the coasts, but also to some inland locations. Check out the latest BTO migration blog

BBS data and habitat monitoring

Citizen science is increasingly recognised as one of the most cost-effective means of achieving large-scale and long-term biodiversity monitoring. Historically, changes in habitat or land cover have been recorded through two main approaches: professional field data collection and remote sensing using satellites. Might Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data be useful for monitoring habitat as well as birds? Read more here.

Cuckoos crossing the Sahara

Some of our Cuckoos have begun their desert crossing, arguably the most hazardous part of their journey. It might be that not all of them make it across. Follow them all as they tackle this formidable barrier over the next couple of weeks.

Tickets now on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the sixth annual Spurn Migration Festival, celebrating the great bird migration spectacle that passes through Spurn in East Yorkshire. The Festival runs from 7-9 September 2018. Tickets can obtained from the Migfest website.

Other recent news

New population estimate for Nightingale

Are you seeing Bullfinches in your garden?

Cuckoos heading south