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The BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common breeding birds. It is a national volunteer project aimed at keeping track of changes in the breeding populations of widespread bird species in the UK. The BBS started in 1994, A report is produced annually."

BTO pages on the site

Breeding Bird Survey

Conservation advice notes

Research notes

Research Reports
- 692 to 600
- 599 to 500
- 499 to 400
- 399 to 300
- 299 to 200
- 199 to 100
- 99 to 1

BTO web site

The Breeding Bird Survey 2015

S.J. Harris, D. Massimino, S.E. Newson, M.A. Eaton, J.H. Marchant, D.E. Balmer, D.G. Noble, S. Gillings, D. Procter, & J.W. Pearce-Higgins

British Trust For Ornithology

2016

"This is the twenty-first annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), containing the population trends of widespread UK bird species during the period 1994–2015.The BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside. BBS trends are produced each year for over 100 species, and the results are used widely to set priorities and inform conservation action."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2014

S.J. Harris, D. Massimino, S.E. Newson, M.A. Eaton, D.E. Balmer, D.G. Noble, A.J. Musgrove, S. Gillings, D. Procter, & J.W. Pearce-Higgins

British Trust For Ornithology

2015

Opening lines: "This is the twentieth annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), containing the population trends of widespread UK bird species during the period 1994–2014. The BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK’s common breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside. BBS trends are produced each year for over 100 species, and the results are used widely to set priorities and inform conservation action."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2013

S.J. Harris, K. Risely, D. Massimino, S.E. Newson, M.A. Eaton, A.J. Musgrove, D.G. Noble, D. Procter, & S.R. Baillie

British Trust For Ornithology

2015

Opening lines: "This is the nineteenth annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), containing the population trends of widespread UK bird species during the period 1994–2013. The BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK's common breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside. BBS trends are produced each year for over 100 species, and the results are widely used to set priorities and inform conservation action."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2012

K. Risely, D. Massimino, S.E. Newson, M.A. Eaton, A.J. Musgrove, D.G. Noble, D. Procter & S.R. Baillie

British Trust For Ornithology

2013

"This is the eighteenth annual report of the BTO/ JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), containing the population trends of widespread UK bird species during the period 1994–2012. The BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK's common breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside. BBS trends are produced each year for over 100 species, and the results are widely used to set priorities and inform conservation action."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2011

K. Risely, D. Massimino, A. Johnson, S.E. Newson, M.A. Eaton, A.J. Musgrove, D.G. Noble, D. Procter & S.R. Baillie

British Trust For Ornithology

2013

"This is the seventeenth annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), containing the population trends of widespread UK bird species during the period 1994–2011. The BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK's common and widespread breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside. BBS trends are produced each year for over 100 species, and the results are widely used to set conservation priorities."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2010

K. Risely, A.R. Renwick, D. Dadam, M.A. Eaton, A. Johnston, S.R. Baillie, A.J. Musgrove, & D.G. Noble

British Trust for Ornithology

2011

"This is the sixteenth annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), containing the population trends of widespread UK bird species during the period 1994–2010. The BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK's common and widespread breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside. BBS trends are produced each year for over 100 species, and the results are widely used to set conservation priorities."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2009

K. Risely, S.R. Baillie, M.A. Eaton, A.C. Joys, A.J. Musgrove, D.G. Noble, A.R. Renwick, & L.J. Wright

British Trust for Ornithology

2010

"The BBS is the main scheme for monitoring the population changes of the UK's common and widespread breeding birds, providing an important indicator of the health of the countryside. BBS trends are produced each year for over 100 species, and the results are widely used by government and non-governmental organisations to set conservation priorities. The BBS was launched in 1994, to provide more representative habitat coverage than the main survey running at the time, the Common Birds Census (CBC). The CBC ended in 2000, and the overlap period between 1994 and 2000 allowed the BTO to develop methods for calculating long-term trends (from the 1960s to the present) using information from both schemes. The most recent joint CBC/BBS trends are published in the Wider Countryside Report, available at www.bto.org/birdtrends."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2008

K. Risely, D.G. Noble, S.R. Baillie

British Trust for Ornithology

2009

"This is the fourteenth annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), containing the population trends of widespread UK bird species during the period 1994–2008. As well as the national trends, specific population trends are presented for birds in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and for the nine English Government Office Regions. We also give details of current research using BBS data, and report on mammal monitoring."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2007

K. Risely, D.G. Noble, S.R. Baillie

British Trust for Ornithology

2008

"This is the thirteenth annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), covering the years 1994 to 2007. The aim of the survey is to monitor population trends for a range of common and widespread bird species in the UK. BBS results are increasingly used by UK Government and non-governmental organisations to set conservation priorities. The scheme is run centrally by BTO staff, and coordinated by a network of volunteer BTO Regional Organisers, who play a crucial role in organising and encouraging volunteer effort. Information about BBS, and the latest results, can be found at www.bto.org/bbs, and more detailed information about population trends can be found at www.bto.org/birdtrends."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2006

Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G & Baillie, S.R

British Trust for Ornithology

2007

"The twelfth annual report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over the past thirteen years, 1994–2006. We also present the survey coverage and bird population changes between the two most recent years, 2005–06. Data were collected from 3,295 1-km squares in 2006, representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organisers (ROs). We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the BBS."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2005

Raven, M.J & Noble, D.G

British Trust for Ornithology

2006

"The eleventh annual report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over the past twelve years, 1994–2005. We also present the survey coverage and bird population changes between the two most recent years, 2004–05. Data were collected from 2,879 1-km squares in 2005, representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organisers (ROs). We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the BBS."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2004 Report No 10

Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G & Baillie, S.R

British Trust for Ornithology

2005

"The tenth annual report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over the past ten years, 1994–2004. We also present the survey coverage and bird population changes between the two most recent years, 2003–04. Data were collected from 2,512 squares in 2004, representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organisers (ROs). We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the BBS."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2003

Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G & Baillie, S.R

British Trust for Ornithology

2004

"The ninth annual report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over the past nine years, 1994-2003. We also present the survey coverage and bird population changes between the two most recent years, 2002-03. Data were collected from 2,254 squares in 2003, representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organisers (ROs). We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the BBS."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2002

Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G & Baillie, S.R

British Trust for Ornithology

2003

"The eighth annual report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over the past eight years, 1994-2002. We have also detailed the changes from the most recent years, 2000-2002. Data for 2001 have not been included in the long-term trends because in that year access restrictions imposed by the outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease caused sampling bias. Data were collected from 2,136 squares representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organisers (ROs). We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the BBS."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2001

M.J. Raven, D.G. Noble & S.R. Baillie

British Trust for Ornithology

2002

"The seventh Annual Report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over the past seven years (1994-2001). With the devasting outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) in 2001, all national bird monitoring was affected, including BBS. Access to the countryside was severely restricted and the BTO issued its own guidance to volunteers to assist in efforts to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. With the kind co-operation of land owners and managers, and considerable effort from our volunteers and Regional Organisers, 581 squares were visited in that year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers for so readily accepting and working within the constraints that FMD placed on us in 2001."

The Breeding Bird Survey 2000

D.G. Noble, M.J. Raven & S.R. Baillie

British Trust for Ornithology

2002

"The sixth BBS Annual Report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over a six-year period (1994-2000). We have also detailed the changes from the most recent years 1999-2000. Data have been collected from 2,248 squares representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organisers."

The Breeding Bird Survey 1999

D.G. Noble, R.I. Bashford & S.R. Baillie

British Trust for Ornithology

2000

"The fifth BBS Annual Report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) allows us to look at the progress of the scheme over a five-year period (1994-1999). We have also detailed the changes from the most recent years 1998-1999. Data have been collected from 2379 squares representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organiser.

The Breeding Bird Survey 1998

D.G. Noble, R.I. Bashford, J.H. Marchant, S.R. Baillie & R.D. Gregor

British Trust for Ornithology

1999

"The fourth BBS Annual Report for the Breeding Bird Survey {BBS} allows us to I look at the progress of the scheme over a five year period (1994-1998). We have also detailed the changes from the most recent two years 1997-1998. The data have been collected from 2247 squares representing a massive effort from our volunteer fieldworkers and Regional Organisers.

Breeding Bird Survey 1996-1997

R.D. Gregory, R.F. Bashford, L.P. Beaveil, J.H. Marchant, A.M. Wilson & S.R. Baillie

British Trust for Ornithology

1998

"This third Annual Report for the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) covers the years 1996 and 1997. Over 2,200 volunteers are now involved in the BBS, generously donating their free time to collect bird, habitat and mammal data across the whole of the UK. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the BBS since it began in 1994 either as a volunteer carrying out the legwork and counting the birds or as a Regional Organisers promoting the survey to local birdwatchers."

Breeding Bird Survey 1995-1996

Gregory, R.D, Bashford, R.I, Balmer, D.E, Marchant, J.H, Wilson, A.M & Baillie, S.R.

British Trust for Ornithology

1997

"This is the second annual report of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), covering the years 1995 and 1996. The report details progress since the scheme's introduction in 1994. The primary aim of the survey is to provide representative population trend indices for a range of common and widespread birds in the UK. Survey plots are based on 1xl km squares of the National Grid. Squares are chosen on the basis of a formal, stratified, random sampling design, with larger numbers of squares selected in regions with more potential volunteers. The same squares are surveyed year after year. Population indices are calculated using methods that remove the potential for sampling bias."

Breeding Bird Survey 1994-1995

R.D. Gregory & R.I. Bashford with the assistance of D.E. Balmer, J.H. Marchant, A.M. Wilson, & S.R. Baillie

1996

"The need to monitor wildlife populations has arguably never been so I great, with large-scale changes in farming practices and new human development increasingly evident all across the UK. Effective bird conservation would simply not be possible if there were no monitoring programmes to tell us how population levels are changing and, ideally, to provide pointers as to why these changes are taking place. Monitoring birds, as opposed to other elements of our wildlife, has the added advantage that birds can act as a valuable barometer of the health of the wider countryside. The BTO has been at the forefront of bird monitoring work since it was formed and has an international reputation in this area. Against this backcloth the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) was introduced in the breeding season of 1994 as an annual survey of widespread and abundant landbirds across the UK. The three BBS partners are the British Trust for Ornithology, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (on behalf of English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. This exciting new partnership demonstrates our shared interests in wildlife monitoring, in which each organisation makes a unique and valuable contribution. The BBS complements the annual monitoring of rare breeding birds, waterbirds, and seabirds that is carried out by a number of different UK organisations and partnership."