Young Birders

THE NEXT GENERATION
Nuthatch
BTO
NEST RECORDING
Until 30 or so years ago, pretty much any young
birdwatcher would have been familiar with the
nests and eggs of most common British birds.
The reason, of course, was that many of them
grew up collecting birds’ eggs. Birdwatching
luminaries such as Bill Oddie have talked about
how that activity, above all else, taught them all
the basics of birding and fieldcraft.
These days, egg collecting is a no-no – taking
them from the wild was made illegal in 1954, but
since 1982, it has also been illegal to simply
possess the egg of any British wild bird.
But finding and recording nests remains
important for scientific study, especially in
tracking the breeding success or failure of
declining or threatened species.
Only 87 Mistle Thrush nests
were recorded in 2014, only 23 Jay
nests and less than 20 Little Egret
nests, so whatever contribution
you make to nest recording, it will
be a valuable one!
It’s a fantastic activity that many birders never
consider, yet it’s a challenge that can be enjoyed
by everyone.
From the simple task of monitoring a Blue Tit
nestbox in your garden, to the thrills of finding a
Nightjar nest camouflaged on the forest floor, nest
recording is rewarding and makes a really
valuable contribution to bird conservation.
More than 230 species have been recorded for
the BTO’s nest record scheme over the years,
ranging from Goldcrests to Golden Eagles, but
there’s always scope for a lot more, with some
relatively common and widespread species badly
underepresented.
For example, only 87 Mistle Thrush nests
were recorded in 2014, only 23 Jay nests and
fewer than 20 Little Egret nests, so whatever
contribution you make to nest recording, it will be
a valuable one!
Before you start, make sure you have read the
BTO’s Code of Conduct for Nest Recorders at
bto.org/volunteer-surveys/nrs/coc
Next, download the ‘Nest Record Scheme Quick
Start Guide’, which provides a simple introduction
and a registration card so you can become an
official nest recorder.
The next step is to find a nest. It’s great to start
practising on easier nests, such as those you may
have in your garden or local park.
Blue Tits may not be the most exciting species
in the world, but monitoring their nests can be
fascinating and it provides good training on what
to record.
The BTO’s book “A Fieldguide to Monitoring
Nests” is an excellent guide which can help you
learn how to tell the nests and eggs of different
species apart. Patience is a key part of nest
recording, so take your time and enjoy all the
nests you find, even the common ones – after all,
not many other people will have taken the time to
notice even a House Sparrow nest!
Once you’ve had a go at recording a few easier
nests, you can begin to wander further afield and
search in more challenging terrain. At this stage,
it would be great if you could either attend one of
BTO’s nest recording courses or hook up with a
nest record scheme mentor.
Nest Record Scheme (NRS) Mentors are
experienced nest recorders who are available to be
contacted for advice and training.
Be warned, though – nest recording is highly
addictive and if you get hooked you’ll soon be on
the lookout for nests everywhere you go!
Please bear in mind that mentors are
volunteers themselves, so their availability may be
limited. To find a mentor visit bto.org/volunteersurveys/nrs/taking-part/nrs-mentoring.
Essential reading for
nest recorders
8 February 2016