Ready to get started?

Our User's Guide has step-by-step instructions on how to get started, all the information you need on finding a survey location, booking a recorder kit, how to use it and how to send in the data. This can be found on the CallTrackers Documentation Page.

How to book a square.

Reserve a survey square via the on-line booking map and book your detector from one of our distributions centres. (It's much easier to do this using a web browser on a computer than on a phone.)

Squares are colour-coded with those in blue our highest priority as they contain wetlands with high conservation value.

If you're unsure where the wetland is within your square, the CallTrackers Squares Map is here to help. See the Site Access Guide for information.

Choose a spot that you can access and move around safely. You're responsible for your safety and land access permissions while taking part. 

Do you need land access permission?

Please note that you may need permission from the landholder to access your chosen location, see our Site Access Guide before booking your square.

Note that you will need to sign up for a British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) account if you're booking a square for the first time. You will be guided through this process once you've selected your square. The BTO host our square and equipment booking system.

Reserving a recorder kit

You can reserve a recorder kit for 11 days at a time. Please allow time for an 8 night deployment and make sure the kit is returned on or before the due date.

Library staff will receive an email a couple of days before a booking starts, so they should be expecting you. When you get there, let them know who you are and why you're there, and they should give you the recorder kit comprising a small case and a bundle of poles.

Once you've familiarised yourself with the equipment and procedures, detailed in The CallTrackers User's Guide you're all ready to go!