About BTO Scotland

 

BTO Scotland started operation in 2000, with the aim of :

• Providing support and encouragement to volunteers across Scotland to gain wider coverage for surveys.
• Conducting research and investigating particular conservation management issues relevant for Scotland’s unique environment and birds. See Research for more information.

Think of Scotland’s birds and images of soaring eagles come to mind. In addition to holding all or most of the UK population of Sea Eagles and Corncrakes, Scotland is the key area in the UK for 23 of the 175 species listed on the EU Birds Directive.

It is therefore important to understand how Scotland’s birds are faring. Over 5000 volunteers, the length and breadth of Scotland, take part in BTO surveys, which enables the BTO to monitor the country’s birds. Species quite often fare differently in Scotland compared to other countries in the UK and pressures on them are also often different. The Blackcap, House Martin and Cuckoo are amongst a number of summer migrants that the Breeding Bird Survey has shown are doing better in Scotland than across the UK as a whole. It is Scotland-specific trends like these which make good survey coverage in Scotland so important.