The Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology (EGI), named in honour of Viscount Grey of Falloden, was founded in 1938. It was the brainchild of Max Nicholson, Bernard Tucker, and Wilfrid Backhouse Alexander, and grew out of the Oxford Bird Census, founded in 1927. W.B. Alexander was the EGI's first Director, and the institute's library, the Alexander Library, was named after him. Subsequent Directors were David Lack, 1945-1973, and Chris Perrins, 1974-2002. Ben Sheldon became Director in 2004, as well as the first holder of the Luc Hoffman Chair in Field Ornithology. The EGI has grown into an internationally known centre for scientific research, major research themes including population and evolutionary ecology of birds, as well as being a training centre for ornithologists who have gone on to play important roles in Conservation.

For more information see: 'History of the EGI', Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology website [http://egi.zoo.ox.ac.uk/egi-members/history-of-the-egi/, accessed 7 Nov 2018]