Bird surveys

Peter Slader is a local ornithologist who has studied and recorded bird life on the University of Exeter's Streatham and St Luke's Campuses since 2008. He records resident and visiting birds using sightings and calls across both campuses. Two surveys are conducted annually - a winter bird survey and a breeding bird survey during the spring months.

His work started in advance of the works to develop The Forum (Streatham Campus' central building) and was seen as a useful baseline to record the impact of development works on campus biodiversity. The consistency of his methodology over the years has allowed us to draw comparisons regarding before and after developments, as well as look at impacts of habitat improvements on bird numbers.

Peter's work has shown some changes in the number of birds over time. Between 2008 to 2011 on Streatham Campus, during the breeding season there was a decline in the number of birds recorded. However, from 2011 to 2025, numbers have remained stable, with annual returns of between 650 to 750 active birds recorded across the campus. During the winter months, a similar pattern emerged. There was a decline in bird numbers recorded for the period 2008/09 to 2012/13. From there onwards, numbers have remained stable, with annual returns of between 650 to 750 recorded.

Key species present on our campuses include:

🐦‍⬛ Blue, coal and great tits have remained in the top 10 since the surveys began, along with robins and blackbirds. 

🐦 Our campuses are home to several red-listed bird species, such as mistle thrush and greenfinches. Red-listed birds are of the highest conservation concern. 

🏰 St Luke's Campus is a stronghold for starlings and house sparrows, which are both red-listed species. St Luke’s is very much an urban area for birds with small parks, gardens and residential properties as the main habitat available to them. Starlings and house sparrows will readily use the grounds of St Luke's to forage for food. 

⭐ Uncommon visitors have included a sedge warbler, common redstart and firecrest! 

With between 650 and 750 birds recorded as being active on campus through the year, we are continuing to sustain a population that suggests we have health and diverse habitats and ecosystems. 

For up-to-date information on each bird survey, please visit the Grounds Budding News blog.