2008 BBS Report
Latest BBS figures reveal a positive story for three of our smallest breeding birds – Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Long-tailed Tit. However, the declines in long-distance migrants remain apparent. Over 3,200 BBS squares were surveyed in 2008, allowing us to produce UK population trends for 105 of our breeding bird species. For many of these we can also produce population trends for the separate countries in the UK, and even in different regions of England, allowing us to compare local and national trends. Click here to download the full report.

European bird trends
BBS results are compared with trends from other European schemes to produce European bird trends. Click here to visit the European Bird Census Council website, and click on the picture below to go straight to the ‘State of Europe´s Common Birds 2008’ brochure

Birds of Conservation Concern
BBS trends form the basis of the Red and Amber lists of birds of conservation concern. Click here to download the latest Red and Amber listings

To download other reports and publications, click here.

The BBS is the main source of population trend information about the UK’s widespread birds – an important indicator of the health of the countryside. We can only produce trends for birds found on 40 or more BBS squares, so the more squares covered, the more species we can monitor.Taking part is easy – just visit a local square twice during the breeding season, and record all birds you see or hear. If you would like to take on a BBS square in 2010, click here to register.

Enter your counts on BBS-OnlineYou can enter your BBS counts directly to BBS-Online from your field recording sheets. Click here to find out how to get set up.

Crop ID for habitat recording
BBS volunteers may be interested in the new revised edition of Dr Sally Francis’s Guide to British Field Crops, which may be useful when recording habitat. Click here for more information.

BBS and the Atlas
There is no need to record breeding evidence for BBS. However, if you do see any evidence of breeding, such as birds singing or carrying food, you may wish to submit the records to the Bird Atlas 2007-11, via www.birdatlas.net or on a Roving Record form. For behaviours that confer breeding evidence, click here.

FREE bird call CD!
A CD of the songs and calls of over 70 British species is available free of charge to new BBS volunteers – just ask your Regional Organiser. Volunteers surveying upland squares will also receive a second CD of upland bird songs and calls.

The BBS National Organiser is Kate Risely. To contact Kate, email bbs@bto.org