A parasitic disease is responsible for the severe declines seen in both UK Greenfinch and Chaffinch populations, say scientists in a new open-access paper in Scientific Reports, a Nature Publishing journal. The research was carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)’s Institute of Zoology (IoZ). Chaffinch...
Hope for endangered British bird as head-started young fly the nest
The fortunes of 37 young Curlews, rescued as eggs from RAF airfields and reared in captivity, are being followed by scientists from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). These birds were released on the Norfolk coast over the last few weeks as part of an attempt to boost internationally important UK Curlew population. Thirty individuals have...
Link revealed between climate change and decline of a threatened UK migrant bird
Researchers from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have used data gathered by volunteers to uncover how the decline in one Red-listed species is linked to climate-induced changes in its breeding behaviour. The open-access findings of their study have now been published in the journal Biology Letters. Willow Warblers are small, tuneful birds that breed across Europe...
Record summer for ‘hummingbirds’ in UK gardens
Data from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Garden BirdWatch survey, carried out by volunteers across the UK,show a fourfold increase in the number of gardens recording a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, making 2022 a record year. These large, colourful insects are often mistaken for hummingbirds because of the way they hover over flowers and use their...
