Posts Tagged ‘BTO’
Scottish cuckoos successfully make it to Africa for the winter
Two cuckoos tagged in Scotland earlier this year have successfully made it to tropical Africa where they will spend the winter months. Since 2011, BTO has fitted more than 120 individual cuckoos with state-of-the-art satellite tags to unravel the mysteries of their migrations and help their conservation. Henry and George 2 were tagged at Dundonnell…
Read MoreWhich birds are missing from your area?
THERE are 73 million fewer birds in the UK than there were back in 1970, according to figures released by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to mark today’s International Dawn Chorus Day. Almost 30 million house sparrows, 20 million starlings, four million skylarks, two million blackbirds, and one million chaffinches have vanished from the…
Read MoreMove from research to conservation to save migrating birds
SCIENTISTS want efforts to shift from research to conservation in order to save migrating birds. Species under threat include cuckoos, swifts, and turtle doves, as well as swallows and whinchats. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) warned that gaps in research into the problem shouldn’t…
Read MoreBlackcaps pick UK over Mediterranean for winter
SOME Scots might be heading to the Mediterranean for its winter sunshine, but more and more blackcaps are doing the opposite. Historically, blackcaps have bred in the UK and then returned to the Mediterranean during the winter. Now, scientists have discovered that a growing number of the robin-sized birds are not only staying in the…
Read More‘Hummingbird’ flocks to Scotland
THE number of hummingbird hawkmoths spotted in Scotland has soared, according to new figures. The moths were reported in 1.2% of Scottish gardens last month, more than three times the season’s average. The British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO’s) Garden BirdWatch survey found the figure hit 5.2% across the UK as a whole, compared to 1.3%…
Read MoreHave you seen a spotted flycatcher?
THE spotted flycatcher is one of six species of migratory birds returning home to Scotland right now – and scientists need your help if you spot one. Researchers at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are fitting spotted flycatchers with tags so that they can track their flights between Scotland and Africa. Monitoring the birds…
Read MoreSearch is on for young nature enthusiasts
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club is working in partnership again with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Scotland to launch an exciting new opportunity for young nature enthusiasts. The first initiative of its kind in Scotland, the SOC/BTO Scotland Scottish Bird Camp (an extension of the Youth Events Programme) will provide a wonderful chance for young…
Read MoreA pair of Scottish bird award winners
A TEENAGER from Glasgow and Scotland’s birdwatching club have each won prizes from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Michael Sinclair, 16, was given the “Marsh Award for Young Ornithologist” for making a “significant contribution” to the BTO’s bird monitoring schemes and for sharing information with his peers, while the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) received…
Read MoreLocation influences how drones affect birds
DRONES are scaring ducks, geese and other wintering waterbirds, according to new research. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Scotland studied how drones affected waterbirds feeding in coastal, freshwater and arable farm habitats. Its scientists found larger flocks were more likely to take flight than smaller flocks, and large flocks also took flight at a…
Read MoreChildren’s wildlife drawing contest launched
GARDEN BirdWatch is marking its 25th anniversary with a drawing competition for children aged five to 11. The British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO’s) summer project includes watching, counting, drawing and writing. The results from each year’s Garden BirdWatch are used by the BTO’s scientists to understand how British birds are faring and how gardens can…
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