FROM THE BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY - A MEMBERS UPDATE

The BTO logo – Birds Science People View this email in your web browser Puffin, by Sarah Kelman / BTO Dear John, Welcome to the Members Edition of the May BTO newsletter. Some broods of Blue Tits and Great Tits have already left the nest, while others are still receiving beakfuls of caterpillars from their busy parents. Migrant warblers are largely on eggs and our seabird colonies are a hive of activity. Elsewhere, returning Swifts have prompted posts of joy on social media, all adding to the sense of a busy spring. BTO staff and volunteers have been equally busy, as evident from the stories included below. The biggest of these stories concerns the results of the recent Winter Gull Survey, which make for alarming reading. The data from this survey provide vital evidence that will support policies aimed at helping this familiar group of species. Help BTO's work to restore wader populations Waders are one of our most threatened groups of birds, with BTO data documenting severe declines. Nesting on the ground, they are especially vulnerable to predators and habitat change. While conservation efforts, such as agri-environment schemes, habitat restoration and the development of protected areas, have shown signs of stemming some declines, we urgently need to do more. That's why we are asking for your support through our new fundraising campaign. Learn more and donate here Curlew chicks, by Harry Ewing / BTO Rethinking how we feed garden birds As reported in last month's newsletter, the best practice advice around garden bird feeding has changed, following an 18-month review of the scientific evidence led by the RSPB and involving BTO and other partners. BTO Senior Research Ecologist Dr Kate Plummer was one of the scientists on the group that reviewed published evidence on the pros and cons of feeding wild birds. In a new BTO blog, Kate sets out the rationale behind the conclusions reached. Read the blog Blue Tit, by Jill Pakenham / BTO Nesting Neighbours Prize Draw! Our Nesting Neighbours project is designed to help us improve our understanding of Britain's breeding birds. Whether you're already signed up or completely new to the scheme, it's the perfect time to get involved because we're running a prize draw this season for all Nesting Neighbours participants! Green Feathers are giving two Nesting Neighbours participants the chance to win a £175 voucher each to spend in their online shop, which stocks a range of wildlife camera and nest box kits. To be in with a chance to win, all you need to do is submit a record for the 2026 nesting season by midnight on Sunday 21 June! (T&Cs apply) Get involved Cover and pages from BTO News Latest News Wintering waterbirds Half a century of Wetland Bird Survey data provide a unique insight into changing waterbird populations, as a new paper shows. Wintering trends have become more negative over the past 25 years, and there is an urgent need to better understand why. Pintails, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO We need to act now A new study, involving BTO staff and using data from the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey, shows that actions taken during the next 20 years will be crucial if we are to mitigate the worst effects of climate and land-use change for Britain's biodiversity. Golden Plover, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO Winter Gull Survey results The results of the recent Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) have just been published and reveal substantial population declines for four of the five main wintering species. While Herring Gull numbers have remained largely stable over the last 20 years, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Great Black-backed Gull had all experienced notable declines. Over the two decades since the last WinGS, the total number of gulls wintering in the UK has decreased from 3.9 million to just under 2.5 million. The substantial overall downturns in wintering gull populations largely reflect broader declines affecting these species across their geographical range. The drivers of these downturns include the impacts of avian influenza, changes in land use and agricultural practices, climate change, and updates in waste management and fisheries discards practices. Although not all the gulls that winter in the UK stick around to breed here, some do, so these declines in wintering gull counts also have implications for the numbers encountered in the UK during the summer months. Common Gull, by Edmund Fellowes / BTO Thank you for your continued support! Happy birding, The BTO Membership Team DONATE VOLUNTEER British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU. www.bto.org | info@bto.org. Registered Charity no. 216652 (England & Wales) SC039193 (Scotland). Company Limited by Guarantee no. 357284 (England and Wales) Unsubscribe from the BTO e-newsletter