BTO create and publish a variety of important articles, papers, journals and other publications, independently and with our partners, for organisations, government and the private sector. Some of our publications (books, guides and atlases) are also available to buy in our online shop.
Annual report of the Seabird Monitoring Programme
Seabird Population Trends and Causes of Change: 1986–2023
This report presents the latest seabird population trends in breeding abundance and productivity using data from the Seabird Monitoring Programme (SMP).
The report documents changes in the abundance and productivity of breeding seabird species in Britain and Ireland from 1986 to 2023, and provides a detailed account of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons.
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Efficacy of methods for producing population trends of breeding waders from Breeding Bird Survey data
Author: Brighton, C.H., Gillings, S. & Massimino, D.
Published: 2025
This report investigates the efficacy of methods for producing population trends from BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey data for six breeding wader species in the UK. It examines the effects of increasing the count threshold on the population trends for these six species, and also explores the effects of different geographic exclusion rules on the population trend of Golden Plover. Overall, it aims to test for any potential biases in the current trends, and in doing so, determines whether we can create a better approach which provides the most robust data for wader conservation moving forwards.
23.06.25
Research reports Research reports
Review of methods used to calculate scale of artificial nesting structures proposed as a compensation measure for Kittiwake mortality at offshore wind farms
Author: Rhoades, J., Johnston, D.T., Humphreys, E.M. & Boersch-Supan, P.H.
Published: 2025
This report reviews the suitability of methods used to calculate the scale of Artificial Nest Structures (ANS) provided as compensation measures for Kittiwake mortality at offshore wind farms in English waters, due to turbine collision only.
19.06.25
Research reports Research reports
Diet analysis of Kittiwake and Shag using DNA metabarcoding of faeces
Author: O’Hanlon, N.J., Jardine, D.C., Lennon, J., Svobodova, D., Swann, R.L., Ward, R.M., Humphreys, E.M. & Morrissey, B.J.
Published: 2025
This study used DNA metabarcoding on faeces collected opportunistically during the breeding season, to identify fish and marine invertebrate prey in the diet of Shag and Kittiwake in western Scotland.
17.06.25
Papers
Responding to high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) and the conservation crisis in wild birds – where next?
Author: Atkinson, P.W. & Baillie, S.R.
Published: 2025
HPAI has now affected over 300 avian species globally, including seabirds, raptors, and waterfowl, with significant mortality observed across both hemispheres.
12.06.25
Papers
Modelled changes to seabird presence and abundance across the MarPAMM region in response to predicted changes in climatic and oceanographic variables
Author: Bennett, S., Rhoades, J., Boersch-Supan, P., Humphreys, E.M., Davies, J. & Upton, A.
Published: 2025
As part of the suite of work for the BTO Northern Ireland Science Plan 2023—2028 for DAERA/NIEA, BTO was asked to provide an analysis and associated report to investigate climate change related change in seabird populations in and around Northern Ireland. In this report, we update previously estimated projections of change in seabird populations (Davies et al. 2023) based on newly available datasets, including data from Seabirds Count and updated NEMO and C3S oceanographic data. We also discuss the reliability of existing Interreg VA/MarPAMM projected changes, and the likely extent to which climate change is already driving alterations to seabird abundance. Overall, the population of seabirds in the Interreg VA/MarPAMM region is predicted to decline in presence and abundance by 2050 under climate change.
10.06.25
Research reports Research reports
