The stunning environs of the Society of Wildlife Artists' Natural Eye exhibition at London's Mall Galleries played host to the 2024 Marsh Awards for Ornithology on Thursday 17 October. This annual event recognises outstanding contributions made by both professional and volunteer ornithologists. The awards are presented through a partnership between the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Marsh Charitable Trust.

Over 130 invited guests attended the event, which coincided with the opening of the SWLA Natural Eye exhibition, to celebrate the ornithological achievements of the award winners.

This year’s BTO Marsh Award for Ornithology went to Dirk Raes. This award recognises ornithologists who are making a significant contribution to the field. Dirk founded and remains the driving force behind the website cr-birding which helps coordinate nearly 7,000 colour ring projects across Europe – something he does entirely in his spare time, and despite not being a bird ringer himself!

This year’s BTO Marsh Award for Young Ornithologist was won by Katie Monk. Katie is a real mover and shaker in BTO Youth and indeed other nature conservation organisations. She walked 1,300 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats with Indy Green, to raise money for the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.

The BTO Marsh Award for Local Ornithology is given to a bird club or group for an exceptional activity that advances our knowledge of birds. This year, BTO were delighted to award it to Ken and Linda Smith and Gus Robin, co-ordinators of the wonderful Woodpecker Network, who are doing so much to help understand and conserve the increasingly rare Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Alongside the Marsh Awards for Ornithology, BTO also presented its Dilys Breese Medal, awarded to outstanding communicators who deliver science to new audiences, and the Jubilee Medal, which is awarded to individuals who have shown outstanding and committed devotion to BTO.

BTO Dilys Breese Medal was awarded to Megan McCubbin. A well-known zoologist and broadcaster, Megan has given her time to support young bird and nature lovers through her involvement with BTO Youth events and her social media accounts. Her broadcast work on programmes like BBC Springwatch regularly sees her mentioning BTO’s work and she kindly contributed to BTO’s Into the Red publication and associated promotion, again increasing awareness of BTO and our work.

The Jubilee Medal went to Penny Williams, who has been a committed BTO Regional Representative for Surrey since 2010.

Two medals were also awarded to the following recipients in a small gathering at the BTO Scottish office in Stirling.

The Bernard Tucker Medal for outstanding contribution to BTO's scientific work was presented to Mike Bell. Mike has made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of changes in Scotland's bird populations through long-term BTO monitoring and his own studies.

The Jubilee Medal for outstanding and commitment to BTO went to Neil Bielby. Neil has been the BTO Regional Representative for Central Region in Scotland since 1995, and is a key BTO surveys organiser.

BTO Chief Executive Professor Juliet Vickery said: “Each year we are astounded by the sheer dedication, and breadth of skills presented by the award nominees. Choosing winners is always a difficult task, but we were delighted to recognise the extraordinary efforts of all of this year’s winners in helping to conserve birds, while teaching and inspiring others.”