Chris Wernham

Biography

Chris's team at BTO Scotland is responsible for a programme of science that is relevant to the Scottish context, with particular expertise in upland/montane/moorland and forestry research, and raptors. We also have research interests in urban issues, seabirds and stakeholder engagement/human-wildlife conflict resolution. Chris's team has the additional responsibility of enhancing the coverage and relevance of BTO-led long-term monitoring schemes in Scotland, and working more generally to increase BTO’s overall supporter base of Members, volunteers and funders in Scotland. Chris has a particular background in avian demography and migration/movements, having previously held the posts of Senior Populations Biologist (Ringing Scheme) and Migration Atlas Project Manager at BTO. Since joining BTO in 1996 she has worked on a wide range of applied and policy-driven conservation research, survey and review projects, including: the conflicts of fish-eating birds with fisheries; the population dynamics of Canada Geese; the effects of predatory birds on wildlife in Scotland; demography and management of urban gull populations; goose management policy in Scotland; and other applied work on seabirds (gulls and auks), raptors and geese. She has a particular interest in raptors, and was one of the editors of the field guide to surveying and monitoring raptors. She is BTO’s main representative on the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Group, on behalf of which BTO Scotland employs the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Officer, Amy Challis.Chris is the strategic lead for BTO Country Ofices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, providing oversight of their programmes of research and the activities that underpin development of our supporter bases in each country.

Research Interest

Urban issues, seabirds and stakeholder engagement/human-wildlife conflict resolution.