Today’s blog is by Professor Jeremy Wilson, Director of Science, on last night’s awards ceremony, where five outstanding scientists and one outstanding communicator were presented with the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) annual Marsh Awards.

Every year, the Marsh Christian Trust supports around 350 charities through the Grants Programme and gives around 80 different Awards to individuals and groups from across the charity sector, who are making a difference to a cause that they believe in.

Five of these awards are presented by the BTO, including the Marsh Award for Innovative Ornithology, and the Marsh Award for Ornithology. I am extremely proud that this year, these two awards were presented to RSPB colleagues, Dr Ellie Owen and Dr Jen Smart, for their outstanding conservation science. Ellie and Jen personify RSPB’s commitment to excellence and impact in our conservation science, and I’d like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to both of them for their outstanding achievement. Below you can read more about their work and its recognition by the Marsh Awards.

Marsh Award for Innovative Ornithology

Dr Ellie Owen, Conservation Scientist, has been recognised for her ground-breaking and innovative Puffarazzi project.

Puffins are one of our most iconic bird species but have declined rapidly in recent years, and now feature on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. A key factor is thought to be low breeding success driven by low availability of key prey species, like the sandeel. However, collecting data on diets is notoriously difficult and often requires intensive monitoring at colonies.

Ellie’s innovative ‘Puffarazzi’ project has helped to overcome this.  The project is powered by a team of volunteers (puffineers) who help run the project and identify fish caught in puffin bills, from photographs by members of the public. The resulting data are used to investigate spatial and temporal changes in Puffin diet and ultimately will be used to link these changes to breeding success. In its first year, members of the public submitted over 1,400 photographs from 40 sites with over 12,000 fish identified as a result.

The initial results from this project have started to reveal differences in diet across the UK. This innovative and engaging project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through citizen science, and has the potential to make a real difference to Puffin and wider seabird conservation.

Ellie said, “It is very exciting to have our work recognised in this way. Citizen science is undergoing rapid development and its dual ability to provide robust conservation data, whilst also facilitating wider societal support for biodiversity conservation, make it particularly valuable. I’m excited to see what future innovations citizen science will bring in the field of ornithology.”

The Marsh Award for Innovation is awarded to an individual or group who have substantially advanced our understanding of avian ecology and whose work positively reflects pioneering work in the field to the wider public.

Marsh Award for Ornithology

Dr Jennifer Smart, Head of Species England, has been recognised for her work in the conservation of breeding waders like lapwing, redshank and black-tailed godwits.

As a group, waders are amongst the most endangered, suffering from a variety of issues that include habitat loss and increased predation. Over the last 15 years, Jen has become a leading voice in the world of breeding wader conservation and her research has played a seminal role in defining the conservation strategies most important for the successful management of breeding wader populations.

Many of Jen’s research findings have informed today’s management of some of the largest breeding wader populations in low lying wetlands, particularly on the RSPB’s network of reserves but also influencing management of grasslands across landscapes managed primarily by farmers both here and abroad.

Jen said, “I am delighted to receive this award which is testament to the teamwork across the RSPB, my academic collaborators, especially UEA and to the many PhD students whose ideas and energy have driven forward much of this work. Receiving awards like this create moments that last a lifetime – so thanks to everyone who played a part”

The Marsh Award for Ornithology is awarded to an ornithologist who is making a significant contribution to the field, typically someone who gained a PhD between ten and twenty years prior to the award being made.

Continue reading

 Would you like to be kept up to date with our latest science news? Email with the heading 'enewsletter' to be added to our quarterly enewsletter.