Niall Burton
Head of Wetland & Marine Research
British Trust for Ornithology
Thetford, UK
Involved with the BOU as:
IBIS associate editor, formerly BOU Meetings Committee chair
BOU member since: 2000s
Most likely to be found . . .
. . . unfortunately, in the office, but out monitoring birds in the local East Anglian Brecks when I have the chance to escape!
What does being an IBIS associate editor involve?
Associate editors help to secure reviewers for manuscripts submitted to Ibis, and then provide an overview of their comments and their own recommendation to the editor managing the submission.
What do you enjoy most about being an IBIS associate editor?
As with other aspects of the BOU with which I have been involved, being an associate editor for Ibis has provided a great opportunity for keeping up with ornithological research and keeping in touch with other researchers.
Why are you a member of the BOU?
The BOU acts as an umbrella organisation, providing links into the wider ornithological community through its excellent conferences, online presence and its journal Ibis, one of the oldest ornithological journals in the world. Why wouldn’t you be a member?
If you’ve attended a BOU conference, what did you get out of it?
I have attended BOU conferences throughout my career and have been fortunate enough to be involved in the organisation of the conferences in recent years. BOU conferences are both stimulating and fun, great for meeting other researchers and familiar faces.
When did your interest in ornithology begin?
I was lucky enough to be put on the right path at an early age, as my father worked at the Natural History Museum at Tring. Some of my earliest memories are of Tawny Owls and Puffins!
What is your most memorable bird-y experience?
Photographing Kingfishers when I should have been revising for my O-levels still stands out.
What is your favourite outdoor place and why?
I am a great believer in getting to know your local patch, and am fortunate to live in the East Anglian Brecks. Northumberland always has a pull, though.
What would you say to anyone considering research in ornithology?
Do it! It may not always be the easiest or straightest path, but it can be hugely rewarding and there is a great community.