Bird Surveys in Scotland

Advancing our understanding of Scotland's birds through surveys and research is one of the principal aims of the SOC. Club members participate in a wide range of survey work across Scotland, whether they be local studies instigated by our own branches or national studies coordinated by other organisations. An increasing number of branches are organising local breeding bird atlases, and the publication of these represents a milestone in our understanding of Scotland's bird community.

The Local Recorders' Network should perhaps be considered as the largest research project undertaken by SOC members. Local bird reports (and the SBR) aim to document bird populations using records submitted by individuals and research projects. With increasing cooperation between fieldworkers, local bird reports are becoming a primary source of bird information in Scotland.

SOC Research Grants, administered by the Club's Research and Surveys Committee, are available to members or branches and aim to encourage and support amateur research in Scotland. Projects marked "EFG supported" in the list below have received Endowment Fund support in the recent past.

Many research projects undertaken by SOC members as well as other ornithological work undertaken in Scotland are written up in the club's journal Scottish Birds. The results of other projects, especially those organised locally, are typically published in local bird reports.

The following surveys are known to have been carried out in Scotland over the past five years or so. They are divided into local and national surveys. Where the organising body is not the SOC or local SOC branch, this is indicated. Contact names are given wherever possible.

Local Surveys, by Recording Area

National Surveys

2007-11 Bird Atlas
Contact: Bob Swann, EMAIL
See the Bird Atlas page for more information.

Concern for Swifts (Scotland)
Contact: Clare Darlaston, EMAIL
Web site Swifts - Concern for Swifts (Scotland)

WeBS counts (inland and coastal)
Organised and funded by: BTO, WWT, RSPB and JNCC
Contacts: local organisers or the BTO WeBS Office, EMAIL

Low tide wader counts
Organised by: BTO
Contact: WeBS Office, BTO, EMAIL

National grey goose census
Organised by: WWT
Contact: local organisers or Richard Hearn (WWT)

Breeding raptors
Organisers/contacts: Scottish Raptor Study Groups

Seabird Colony Register and Seabird 2000
Coordinated by: JNCC
Contact: Dr Ian Mitchell for Seabird 2000, EMAIL
or Kate Thompson for the SCR, EMAIL

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)
Organised by: BTO
Contacts: BTO Regional Reps or the BBS National Organiser, EMAIL

Rare Breeding Birds
Co-ordinated by: Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP)
Contacts: Local Recorders or the RBBP Secretary

Annual Heronries Survey
Organised by: BTO
Contacts: BTO Regional Reps

If you find a bird ring
Contact the BTO Ringing Office, EMAIL

Other BTO surveys
Contacts: BTO via Regional Reps

Arrival Dates of Summer Migrants
Compiled annually by Birdline Scotland
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004


Scottish-based colour-ringing schemes

NB: the following list is not comprehensive.
Shag
Mute Swan
Pink-footed Goose
Greylag Goose - Bob Swann
Hen Harrier (wing-tags)
Red Kite (wing-tags)
Oystercatcher - Alistair Duncan
Blackcap - Gullane
Snow Bunting