The “Big Five” of the UvA: From breeding grounds to horse manure nests
Storks on Roeterseiland, swifts at Oudemanhuispoort, and grass snakes at the Science Park. Many animal species find their way to the University of Amsterdam. “This bird can only nest here by the grace of the ARTIS Zoo.”
It’s spring and that means that many animals are waking up from their hibernation and cautiously showing themselves again. It may surprise you, but many animal species are found on and around the various buildings of the UvA.
That is not without reason. Due to Amsterdam’s location between dunes and meadows, the city enjoys a rich biodiversity. The university also reaps the benefits of this. The IJ waterfront, the canals, and the lakes form important green connecting strips for animals from outside the city.
In addition to the well-known city pigeons, ring-necked parakeets, and rats, the university city has many more animal species. Geert Timmermans, urban ecologist and Honorary Fellow at the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), told us all about the “Big Five” of the UvA.
1. Stork: The messenger of good news
A large stork’s nest can be seen on the Amsterdam Business School building on Roeterseiland. The round wreath is clearly visible from the Nieuwe Prinsengracht and forms one of the permanent bases of the stork Gekke Gerrit every spring. “Gerrit gets his nickname from the fact that he still has a nest in Amsterdam,” Timmermans laughs. “He can only settle here by the grace of the ARTIS Zoo, where he gets his food.”
The stork was once almost extinct in the Netherlands. Its white and black plumage makes it perhaps one of the most charismatic birds and is often associated with the announcement of a birth. “The last breeding pair in Amsterdam was in 1901,” says Timmermans. “But breeding programs and escaped young of clipped storks from ARTIS led to a nest in Park Frankendael in 2001. From there, the bird spread farther throughout the city.”
2. Grass snake: A hiss in the lawn
A snake in Amsterdam? You wouldn’t expect it, but Amsterdam is really a grass snake city according to Timmermans. With a length of between 70 and 80 centimeters, the grass snake is the largest snake species in the Netherlands. With yellow and black spots behind its head, it looks dangerous. Despite its poisonous appearance, the snake is harmless and will not bite even if you pick it up.
“The grass snake is mainly found in and around the Science Park. The municipality has created breeding grounds there made of horse manure and dead leaves, where the snakes lay their eggs in July. Next autumn we will check out its success together with students from the UvA,” says Timmermans.
3. Swift: From Africa to the Netherlands and back
The swift is an inconspicuous bird with its sooty black plumage. Every year, around 3,000 breeding pairs fly from Mali and Congo to Amsterdam to reproduce here. For swifts, the houses, office buildings, churches, and other structures in the city are like a rock landscape full of cavities in which they can breed. UvA buildings are no exception.
“The swift does everything in the air,” says Timmermans. “From hunting to sleeping. As a result, the bird hardly reaches the ground. At the end of April, you can see them clearly at the Oudemanhuispoort. Every year a number of pairs nest there in the swift boxes.”
4. Common pipistrelle bat: A useful city dweller
Bats are the only flying mammals in the world. Weighing as little as a sugar cube and the size of a folded-up matchbook, the common pipistrelle bat is one of the smallest of its species. It is a well-known sight in Amsterdam and likes to squeeze into the cavity walls of historic buildings, such as in the university quarter near the Oude Turfmarkt or Oudemanhuispoort.
“The common pipistrelle bat is found everywhere in Amsterdam,” says Timmermans. “This tiny creature makes itself useful by catching insects like mosquitoes from the air. Unlike the swift, it does not do this with its beak. It has a kind of net between its hind legs to catch them and bring them to its mouth.”
5. Oystercatcher: The only UvA bird
In 2023, the oystercatcher was named “Bird of the Year.” It has a long orange beak and pink legs and has declined sharply in recent years. Nevertheless, this wading and meadow bird is increasingly seen in the city and it successfully broods here.
“This bird breeds on the roof of Science Park,” says Timmermans. “The sedum roofs with pebbles provide the perfect breeding ground for oystercatchers. There is only one pair that does that, which is why I would definitely call the oystercatcher a UvA bird.”
