Seven* of our satellite tagged Cuckoos are south of the Sahara, having made epic migrations from Europe! *Actually, make that eight - Irish bird Brock has 'reappeared' & his signal shows that he is in Chad. Find out more, & follow the Cuckoos' progress: ➡️ www.bto.org/cuckoos #birds #ukbirding

(1/) Cuckoo is another species that is often associated with heathland. The BBS trend for different parts of the UK is currently showing some interesting results. It has increased in Scotland, but it has declined in England… @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

More than half of the world's migratory bird species are in decline, according to the first comprehensive global assessment of migratory birds, with scientists warning that co-ordinated international action is urgently needed to reverse the trend: https://f.mtr.cool/exmtodzpwb

Mark your calendars! 🐦 Our 2027 Annual Conference will take place in Sheffield, from Friday 5 to Saturday 6 March. Join us for the whole event or just Friday or Saturday only! #Ornithology Find out more and book your place today ➡️ www.bto.org/landing-...

1/ A major new global review published in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com, featuring BTO authors CEO @julietvickery.bsky.social & Senior Research Ecologist Chris Hewson, finds that 51% of the world’s migratory bird species are declining! #Ornithology 🌍🌐 📖 www.bto.org/MigratoryBir...

Calling all wildlife artists! 🎨🦅 A reminder to submit your work for the Society of Wildlife Artists exhibition The Natural Eye at Mall Galleries ➡️ www.mallgalleries.or... We’re also excited to offer our BTO Award of £500 again this year. 🙌 🎨 Early morning Avocets by Richard Allen

Romelly has joined the BTO NI team for the summer to gather data for her undergrad dissertation investigating public perceptions of urban gulls. If you live in Northern Ireland, we'd really appreciate it if you would consider filling out this survey to help with the research. bit.ly/NIUrbanGulls

Asking for a friend: what sort of guidance, evidence, or support would help you implement more bird-friendly management in your green spaces? 🐦🌳 @btobirds.bsky.social wants to hear from local authorities, friends groups, and land managers before 31 July - Take the survey

Thanks @bou.org.uk for the opportunity to write a bit about our ongoing PIGEON SCIENCE 🕊️ including work funded by @btobirds.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social 🐦

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU)@bou.org.uk · 2w ago

NEW on #theBOUblog from Will Smith The secret lives of Outer Hebridean Rock Doves: What can we learn from studying the wild counterparts of domesticated pigeons? bou.org.uk/blog-smit... Based on this paper doi.org/10.1093/orni... #ornithology 🪶

With recent heatwaves a reminder that our planet is changing, a new report by the RSPB and @btobirds.bsky.social explores how the climate crisis is already affecting the UK’s birds, and why restoring nature is key to their future, as well as ours. 🌍🌡️ www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

Mediterranean Gull breeding abundance increased from 135 to 2,311 AON in the UK & Ireland between Seabird 2000 and Seabirds Count. Help us continue to monitor this expanding population by submitting your breeding data to the SMP! #Seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Listen to ‘A is for Auk’ on the BTO podcast, Beyond The Bird Table! Join us as we delve into the world of seabirds with ornithologist, writer & broadcaster, Prof Tim Birkhead & Senior Research Ecologist with BTO Scotland, Dr Nina O’Hanlon #Birds #UKBirding

Cuckoos are go! BTO satellite tagged Cuckoos are well on their way to the forests of Central Africa. Two have already crossed the Sahara while our most northerly bird is Bean, who's in Germany. Follow their progress: www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking getbird.ing

The BBS coverage in Scotland has been relatively consistent for the last five years. However, there is a possibility that we might achieve the best year on record. If you haven’t already done so, please enter your BBS data by 31 August! @btobirds.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social #Ornithology

Sean Bean reacts to being 'one of a select few' to have a cuckoo bird named after him bit.ly/3RrHGna

Train to London, catching up on reading. BTO News read cover-to-cover as usual. Masterclass series is a brilliant example of asking world experts to convey science in an accessible way. Lots I learned about bird sleep, and it bust a long-held myth! #Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social @maxplanck.de

We're so excited about this! Head to our Cuckoo Tracking page to find out more about Bean the Cuckoo, currently making his way south through Central Europe. You can even sponsor Bean and other satellite tagged Cuckoos! www.bto.org/get-involved... Get Birding Podcast: getbird.ing #Birds #Birding

(1/) Have you ever wondered how common bird monitoring is done in other parts of Europe? Data from the Pan European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS), of which BBS feeds into, yields some fascinating results. Today, we focus on Czechia… @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social

(1/) As the results from the Heathland Birds Survey have recently been published, for the next few weeks, we are going to focus on some heathland specialists. Woodlark has increased by 29% across the UK! Survey results: www.bto.org/our-work/new... @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social

1/ Headstarting is a promising conservation tool for Curlew recovery, and involves collecting eggs from nests at risk of destruction, rearing the hatched chicks in captivity and releasing them into the wild. You can support our breeding wader research by donating www.bto.org/breeding...

Listen to Britain’s dawn chorus of 1976: the dramatic loss of birdsong in 50 years

Listen to Britain’s dawn chorus of 1976: the dramatic loss of birdsong in 50 years

Guardian recreates audio landscape of past filled by loud morning symphony before 73m wild birds were lost

theguardian.com

A new report shows climate change is already impacting UK bird populations. Upland birds & seabirds face steep declines in their numbers underlining the need for action, while some southern species are expanding their ranges. Find out more: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen... @btobirds.bsky.social 🪶

Climate change is already impacting UK bird populations

A new RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology report looks at the impacts on UK birds and the actions we can take to protect them.

rspb.org.uk

The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey season has now begun! You can make a minimum of two additional visits to your BBS square to count butterflies and other invertebrates, using a similar methodology. Please email: bbs@bto.org for more information. @btobirds.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

UKBMS@ukbms.bsky.social · last mo.

Today is the start of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey! This volunteer scheme monitors butterflies across 1900 randomly allocated 1km squares across the UK. The core survey runs from now until the end of August, providing crucial data on butterflies. Get involved ⬇️ buff.ly/YLnZSVB

Can you deliver an accessible, inclusive and engaging logo design for a new citizen science project? With a prize of £1,500 for the winning design and deadline of midnight on Sunday 9 August 2026. Find out more bit.ly/birdatlaslogo

(1/) As the 2026 BBS & WBBS survey season draws to a close, we would like to share our newly updated BBS Volunteer Stories page: www.bto.org/get-involved... If you would like to share your experience of surveying a square or stretch, please email us on bbs@bto.org! @btobirds.bsky.social

The first 2026 Breeding Success records have been submitted to SMP! These include positive records for Common Tern and Black-headed Gull. We look forward to seeing more records as the season advances. Don't forget to submit yours! #Seabirds @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

It’s Swift Awareness Week! Sadly, the iconic Swift (Apus apus) dropped in numbers across the UK by over two thirds between 1995 and 2024. Find out more about this aerobatic species on our BirdFacts pages: www.bto.org/learn/about-... @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

Forget catching 40 winks, Chinstrap Penguins take over 10,000 microsleeps a day, each lasting for four seconds! 🐧 Niels C. Rattenborg explores the fascinating world of avian sleep in BTO News. Become a BTO member & you'll receive BTO News four times a year. Join today ➡️ www.bto.org/support-...

Do you love filming, and creating videos? Our Digital Communications Officer (Videographer) role could be for you! Find out more and apply ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs 📆 Full time. 📝 £33,954 per annum. 📍 Thetford, Norfolk (Hybrid). ⚠️ Application deadline: 5 July.