Individual observatories are located at prime migration points where a daily census is taken in a defined recording area.

An integral part of observatory work is bird ringing, undertaken within the national British scheme which is coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology. This provides data for guiding conservation policies of such bodies as Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and their counterparts in Ireland.

The Observatories encourage volunteers to participate in scientific studies of birds and the environment. The results of these studies and more general information are made freely available to researchers and to the public who are welcome to visit observatories.

The Bird Observatories Council co-ordinates and promotes the work of the bird observatories at a national level. Individual observatories are accredited to the Council when they meet specified criteria relating to activities and facilities. Click here to see what is required for this.

You will find links to all the accredited observatories through the menu above. The links open a new window and take you to the observatory's own website.

For information about the Bird Observatories Council contact the secretary:

EMAIL Alison Duncan

 Click HERE for the contact details for all the observatories.