What we have funded
To give you an idea of the type of projects we fund, here are some of those we have supported in previous years.
View a complete list of grants awarded since 2011.
Research
We have been proud of our support of a number of BTO projects and in supporting the use of the latest technology. We have provided funding for the long-running BTO Cuckoo tracking project, the tracking of Short-eared Owls by John Calladine and his team there, and of Arctic Skuas in the BTO’s efforts to uncover the reason for the considerable decline in their Scottish population. Projects by others that we have supported include colour-ringing studies of various species from Twite to Brent Geese, radio tracking of Curlew, video surveillance of Manx Shearwaters and Swifts, studies of the effect of forestry practices in West Africa, and of farmland birds in Oxfordshire.
Publication and dissemination of knowledge
We have supported the second European Breeding Bird Atlas, the publication of an Arabic translation of the Birds of the Middle East field guide and a summary of 40 years bird recording by the North Sea Bird Club. We have awarded grants towards a workshop on Woodpeckers in Hungary and the education of children in Georgia by Batumi Raptor Migration Watch.
Conservation
We have contributed towards rat elimination on Aldabra, Henderson Island and Blakeney Point, protection measures for Curlew in Shropshire, the development and distribution of Hookpod devices to safeguard albatrosses from ensnarement in fishing hooks, and habitat creation or improvement work at Sandwich Bay and Sculthorpe Moor.
Provision of facilities
We have made grants towards hides or buildings at Flamborough Head, Walney Island, Hengistbury Head and Bardsey. We paid for the construction of a tower at Spurn Bird Observatory, and have funded audio-visual equipment there for use at Migfest.
Bird camps
We have supplied funds to enable young birders to attend events on the Isle of May and Bardsey.