Finding Willow Tits with the Species Volunteer Network

The Willow Tit is the UK’s fastest declining resident bird, with numbers falling by a staggering 96% between 1967 and 2023. With remaining Willow Tit populations becoming increasingly isolated and suitable habitat disappearing, we need urgent action to reverse this alarming trend.

In 2025 we supported the Where the Willow Tits Are project alongside the Macc Wild Network and a local consultant, to help locate remaining Willow Tit hotspots across the south and west Peak District and surrounds. With help from around fifty volunteers from our Species Volunteer Network (SVN) and local birdwatchers, the vital information from this project forms the basis for our ambition to enhance and connect Willow Tit habitat across this landscape. Chloe Pritchard was one of the volunteers supporting the project:

“When I heard that the RSPB were looking for volunteers to survey Willow Tits in the south and west Peak District, I was keen to be involved, being aware that they need all the help they can get and that finding them can be quite addictive! I first developed a fondness for Willow Tits when I helped with the National Survey back in 2019-21 and I’m lucky enough to have them on my doorstep. A training day at Carsington Water kicked off the project and it was great to learn more about these little birds as well as meet other like-minded volunteers.” 

Surveying for Willow Tits can be quite tricky as they look almost identical to Marsh Tits. The best way to tell them apart is by listening to their call. Volunteers on the project used a standard method, whereby they surveyed for Willow Tit songs and calls at set points along a transect.

“I requested to survey one of the squares I’d previously covered where I’d found six pairs, as I wanted to see if they were still there. The first morning on my third survey point, at a waterlogged area of plantation next to the river I stopped and there he appeared singing above my head! Hearing Willow Tits never fails to make me smile but when they come over to check you out it’s even more special! I found one more singing bird in my square, in the same place I’d found one next to the canal five years ago, however the other birds didn’t seem to be there, which was disheartening. Just goes to show they really do need our help.” 

As part of the project, we also deployed Passive Acoustic Monitors (PAMs), devices which record audio for set times and days, and can tell us about which birds are in an area. These were put in places thought to be used by Willow Tits dispersing through the landscape after chicks have fledged, and if detected will allow us to prioritise these important habitat corridors for their conservation.

“I also helped with installing and maintaining a Passive Acoustic Monitor (PAM) in late summer. I was given the details of a landowner with instructions for a rough location to install it. We had a bit of an adventure getting to the location, battling through tall marsh plants and negotiating a steep sided stream! We eventually found a good spot on a tree along the feeder canal where we hoped Willow Tits would be passing through. The landowner came out with me each time and was very interested in what we were doing and keen to help where she could, and I got to meet some pretty cows, one of which was called Chloe!” 

“Doing volunteer surveys is always more than just the survey itself, whilst it’s interesting to see the results and contribute to a worthwhile cause, there are always added bonuses. The early spring is a great time of year to be out, and I enjoyed seeing the first signs of spring including spawning frogs, willow and larch flowers, a heronry and Ravens nesting in the trees above the feeder canal.  It’s also a good opportunity to raise awareness when people ask what you’re doing and perhaps encourage others to help where they can.” 

Volunteers such as Chloe play a big part in our species recovery work, so if you are feeling inspired and would like to get involved or are interested in any other volunteering roles, please go to our RSPB Volunteering Opportunities page.  

If you can’t find the sort of volunteering role you’re looking for from our listed opportunities, please do get in touch so we can help find the right role for you. 

Whilst we cannot always guarantee a role on a specific project, you can contact us directly at: SpeciesVolunteerNetwork@rspb.org.uk  and we will get back to you as soon as possible.