Today, the SOC, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), BirdWatch Ireland, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Welsh Ornithological Society (WOS) are announcing a new partnership that will secure a step change in the evidence base for bird conservation across Britain and Ireland.
The five organisations have come together – for the first time - to begin work on Bird Atlas 2027–31, a project and resulting publication that will provide complete and unrivalled bird information from every part of Britain and Ireland.
The project will draw on the support and skill of thousands of volunteer surveyors and citizen scientists, who will help to measure changes in the number and distribution of all our bird species in both winter and the breeding season. The data gathered will reveal how these species are doing as well as their distribution, providing strong evidence to underpin conservation efforts for decades to come.
It has been nearly 20 years since the last atlas, and a great deal has changed since then. The pressures on species and habitats have never been greater, and we need this new atlas so that we can identify the species and sites most in need of conservation action.
The partnership is looking to deliver for people as well as for birds. The new atlas will inspire, engage and motivate people to play their part in the response to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity collapse, and the partners – with their combined reach - are working to make this the most inclusive and accessible bird atlas ever.
Fieldwork will start on 1 November 2027 and the project itself will be launched in autumn 2026 and will run for four years. If you want to keep up to date, visit birdatlas.net.
Ruth Briggs, SOC President said: "SOC members, staff and trustees are delighted and excited to partner again with BTO and other bodies involved in delivering the next Bird Atlas. Once again we will promote, lead and support the gathering of field records and data from across Scotland, from our extensive and beautiful highlands, islands and coastlines to our lowlands, forests and city areas. We will foster and create opportunities for anyone who wishes to join in, whether resident or visiting Scotland. Compiling the Atlas is a vital opportunity to fill gaps in our knowledge of the current status of Scotland's birds, especially in less-visited areas, to understand their population trends and identify their conservation requirements."
Photo © Rosie Filipiak
