Rachel Taylor was co-opted to Council in November 2023 as Editor of Milvus, the main WOS journal. She acts as BTO scientific liaison and research lead for Wales. Environmental law and the main drivers of ecological change differ between the Principality and England, and her job is to ensure that Welsh research priorities are reflected in the BTO’s portfolio; that Welsh projects are developed and can be managed locally; and that Welsh policy and environmental audiences maintain a good understanding and appreciation of the BTO’s research activity.

Her particular research interests are in the use of long-term ringing datasets to monitor survival in wading birds; biophysical indicators of body and environmental condition in birds; and the use of tracking technology to study individuals’ use of spatially complex landscapes such as upland farmland.

Rachel has a parallel research background in greenhouse gas emission and carbon sequestration modelling in agricultural systems, which helps inform BTO’s work on the wider ecosystem services implications of landscape management for both biodiversity and agricultural production.

She is an active wader, seabird and passerine ringer, and stained glass artist.