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.

Bullfinch by John Harding

Recording your garden birds 2018

It’s a new year, a new start and a great time to appreciate the birds on our doorsteps.

Greenfinch

Bird winners and losers

The 2017 BirdTrends report has just been published and highlights the rapid and continuing decline of our Greenfinch population, which has declined by 59% in just ten years. Our annual BirdTrends report is a one-stop shop for information about the population status of the common breeding birds of the wider UK countryside. The data covered in the report were gathered by thousands of volunteer ‘citizen scientists’ looking out for birds in every habitat – from the streets of Cambridge to the slopes of the Cairngorms.
Jubilee Medal

BTO Medal winners

The Jubilee and Tucker Medals were awarded at the BTO’s annual conference 2017. Dr Bob Harris was the recipient of the Jubilee Medal in recognition of over forty years devotion to the Trust, whilst Dr Ken Smith was awarded the Tucker Medal for his outstanding contribution to the work of BTO since 1974. Read more about both here.

Golden Plover by Edmund Fellowes

The State of the UK’s Birds 2017

Just published, the latest State of the UK's Birds Report highlights how our birds are doing. Some of our summer migrants are arriving earlier, the distributions of others are moving north and some are just beginning to colonise. The report is only possible due to the efforts of volunteers who take part in BTO surveys.