Conservation Data at RSPB
The RSPB holds a wide range of conservation data from across the UK and from overseas project sites, spanning over a century. We collect species records, habitat data, drone data, records of management work on our reserves, mapped features, camera trap imagery and much more!
On this page
As of 2024, the RSPB holds around c.-8 million species records including records from:
- National Surveys and regional monitoring of rare and scarce species such as Capercaillie, Stone-curlew and Corncrake,
- Reserves monitoring including non-avian species of conservation interest,
- Projects such as Species on the Edge, Back from the Brink and citizen science initiatives.
To ensure everyone has the right information in the fight to save nature, we make our data available.
Sharing data
The RSPB advocates for Open data so that our conservation data can be of maximum use. However, we need to be confident that where there are sensitivities around the data, we protect them from being shared.
We manage how we share sensitive species records through an agreed set of rules which apply blurring to records of sensitive species to protect them from harm.
Non-sensitive records can be shared openly on the NBN Atlas. We only share data that belongs to RSPB, or that we have permission to share.
Accessing our data
The RSPB’s data request service can give you more detailed access to our species data than that available on the NBN Atlas. If, for instance, you require data for a planning application or research, we are here to help!
Please use our external data request form to request the data you require, and we will provide you with an indicative cost to process your query. We waive fees in certain circumstances, for example for partner conservation outcomes, academic research and non-commercial outcomes. There may be exceptions to our charging policy where large amounts of protected species tracking data are requested. For more information, see the and RSPB Data Supply Terms & Conditions.
For more general spatial data, head to the RSPB Open Data Portal. Our flagship datasets, including the boundaries of our nature reserves, and the UK’s Important Birds Areas (IBAs) are available here. There’s a wide range of other datasets too, including seabird hotspots, sensitivity maps, and key habitat data. You can explore the maps and data directly through the portal, download them for use in GIS, or access them through an API. Please read the license details for each dataset, as terms of use vary.
RSPB species data request form
Download a request form to request all species data except White-tailed Eagle satellite tracking data (see below). This form should be sent to speciesdatarequests@rspb.org.uk.
White-tailed Eagle satellite tag data request form
Download a request form for White-Tailed Eagle satellite tag data. This form should be sent to our Investigations Team (crime@rspb.org.uk). These data can include GPS location data alongside related metadata.
Conservation Data Management Unit
The collection and management of conservation data at the RSPB are supported by the Conservation Data Management Unit (CDMU). CDMU provide principles, guidance and direct support to staff across the organisation to help them make the best use of our resources when collecting and managing data.
CDMU provide bespoke apps for data management, including “Merlin”, our in-house GIS system. This allows staff to bring data together from a range of sources, for analysis and decision making. We also work with ArcGIS Online apps and the Microsoft Power Platform.
We have a dedicated team of GIS Analysts providing the geographic evidence we need to make and influence decisions. The analyses we conduct help us investigate spatial patterns, make predictions and understand the consequences of conservation actions. We harness the power of visual story telling using maps. Where relevant, we make the outputs of these analyses openly available for wider use, for example through our Open Data Portal.
