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

We're looking forward to running this online event in September! Join us if you're NI-based and interested in finding out more about the Wetland Bird Survey and Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey. bit.ly/BTONI-events

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...

We have been back to collect cameras deployed around Lough Neagh at the beginning of the breeding season. Resultant footage will help to further understand nesting behaviour of Lough Neagh's breeding wild duck population and the challenges they're facing. Watch this space for what our cameras find!

We enjoy working in partnership with a range of organisations, including Woodland Trust. This morning, Hala, Esther & Jemma visited a couple of Woodland Trust sites in the North West to talk with the team there about how we can work together for nature through our science and engagement efforts.

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

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

Our team are working on the ACCLIMATISE Project, researching how climate change is affecting seabirds. This includes ringing and GPS tagging Kittiwakes in Northern Ireland which can then be monitored to gather information on breeding productivity and foraging habits.

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

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

Thanks to everyone in NI who helped out with BBS this year, make sure and get your data submitted before the end of next month!

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS)@bbs-birds.bsky.social · 4w ago

Now that the BBS survey season is over, we will be sharing how much data we have received so far from each country across the UK. Beginning with Northern Ireland, although we are not likely to hit the heights of 2021, the second best year is in sight! @btobirds.bsky.social @bto-ni.bsky.social

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

Dream job alert 🎉 Are you a talented videographer with a passion for nature? Join our team! Apply online ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs 📆 Full time. 📝 £33,954 per annum. 📍 Thetford, Norfolk (Hybrid). ⚠️ Application deadline: 5 July.

Here at BTO, we are in the middle of Green Travel Month. Staff are being encouraged to consider the way they commute, and choose public or active transport methods instead of travelling by car. We're keeping a note of the miles that we cover in June to see if we can reach our goal 🏆

Andrew, Head of BTO NI, joined the launch of the Northern Ireland Seabird Conservation Strategy on Rathlin Island yesterday. Check out this article from @daera-ni.gov.uk to find out more about this important framework for looking after our seabirds: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/muir-la...

Mosquito-borne diseases pose an increasing risk to bird populations in the UK and Ireland 🐦‍⬛ The MosquitoNI project is studying which mosquito species are living here, and what viruses they might carry.

There are now only around three weeks to go until the 2026 BBS survey season finishes at the end of the month! Please try and do your ‘Late’ visit as close to your average visit date as possible, as long as the weather is suitable. @btobirds.bsky.social JNCC RSPB Science

Fieldwork season is in full swing for our ACCLIMATISE team!

Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute@afbini.gov.uk · 2mo ago

🦆Great progress this week on the PEACEPLUS-funded ACCLIMATISE project led by AFBI! BTO staff deployed passive acoustic monitors on Sheep Island, the Skerries & Isle of Muck to track movements of tagged seabirds. Stay tuned for insights into our marine environment! @btobirds.bsky.social

The BTO NI Science team was joined by our gull-tagging experts from BTO Scotland a couple of weeks ago to do a second-year of GPS-tagging of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Lough Neagh 🪶

Getting involved with WeBS is a great way to use your bird skills, plus it can be a handy motivator to get some fresh air during the winter months. If you're near Omagh and fancy giving WeBS a go at Lough Muck please get in touch with us - northern.ireland@bto.org

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) | Goose & Swan Monitoring (GSMP)@webs-gsmp.bsky.social · 2mo ago

If you’re a birder in Northern Ireland, we need your help! Lough Muck in Co. Tyrone has only been counted twice in 1992 and attracts common waterbird species. If you can help please contact us via the "Contact the Local Organiser" button at app.bto.org/websonline/s... #Ornithology #UKBirding

Take part in our Birds in Greenspaces Day this Saturday 13 June! 🐦 Just download the app, select your greenspace and submit the birds you encounter on your visit. Sign up at www.bto.org/greenspaces

Will Rose@willrose.bsky.social · 2mo ago

@btobirds.bsky.social Birds in Greenspaces day this Saturday. Get out there and record some birds! Please share! #birds

Are you a Swiftie? 🎵 😀 Did you know that the longevity record for Swift in Britain & Ireland is 17 years, 11 months & 5 days old? 😮 You can help us monitor this species by submitting your sightings to BirdTrack via www.bto.org/birdtrack #WorldSwiftDay 📷Philip Croft/BTO

Volunteers are at the heart of BTO. 🐦 We couldn't achieve what we do for birds, science & people without you. Thank you! Here's a snapshot of what some of our survey volunteers have achieved 🙌 From Regional Reps to BTO Youth, there's a variety of volunteer roles at BTO➡️ www.bto.org/volunteer

We simply wouldn't know nearly as much about our breeding birds without the volunteers who give of their time and skills to collect data on our behalf. Today, we celebrate you. Thank you so much 👏

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS)@bbs-birds.bsky.social · 2mo ago

It’s Volunteers’ Week! 2025 was the best year on record for BBS coverage across the UK. Thank you so much to the 2,828 volunteers who took part in the survey last year. We appreciate your time and effort. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology #VolunteersWeek

The 2026 @daera-ni.gov.uk Environmental Statistics Report is now available! It includes our Annual Wild Bird Indicator for NI plus Indicators for each habitat. 🐤🌿 We spotlight 2 species' trends below: one positive and one negative. 📈📉 Check out the report 👉 www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications...

We're really looking forward to BSBI joining us for Nature Day! Booking closes on Sunday 31st May so there's not long left to get your ticket⏰

BSBI Ireland@bsbiireland.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Book your spot on @bto-ni.bsky.social's Nature Day in Oxford Island on Saturday 6 June. The @bsbibotany.bsky.social #BotanicalSkillsNI team will be there, helping people practice their botanical recording and talking about our #100Plants2026 challenge - see you there!

(1/) Last but not least, we cover Northern Ireland for two up, two down. One of the most significant increases has been Blackcap. This warbler species increased by 725% across the country 1997-2024. @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social @bto-ni.bsky.social #Ornithology