Scientific Focus Area: Biodiversity
Promoting entity: EBM Biological Station of Mértola
Funding: Associação Viridia – Conservation in Action
Timeline: February 2023 – February 2026
Location: Alentejo and Beira Baixa
Team: Inês Catry (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, EBM; principal researcher), João Gameiro (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO); Teresa Catry (CESAM)

Partnership: Liga Para a Proteção da Natureza (LPN)

The roller, Coracias garrulus, one of the 17 breeding bird species in Portugal with a “critically endangered” status, has been experiencing a significant contraction in its distribution area, currently restricted to the central and southern interior of the country and occurring discontinuously in extensive agriculture habitats and sparse montado habitats.

Studies conducted in this context suggest that the decline of this species results from changes in land use and the scarcity of nesting sites. The roller is a bioindicator of agricultural practices.

Implementation of conservation actions and creation of a network of nest boxes in Special Protection Areas (SPAs) with favourable habitats to the species are fundamental measures to counteract the observed trend. The project aims to:

• Provide a network of nest boxes in the main SPA with steppe habitat to increase the number of breeding pairs, reinforce residual breeding colonies, and promote the expansion of the distribution area, restoring populations in regions where the species has recently disappeared;
• Re-establish the long-term population monitoring program to investigate reproductive demographic parameters and evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented measures;
• Conduct a surveys to estimate population size and trends;
• Investigate the impact of land use changes, particularly the type and intensity of grazing, on reproductive success;
• Assess migratory routes and wintering areas to identify potential threats during the non-breeding period;
• Promote awareness of the public and stakeholders to ensure conditions that will allow the preservation of the roller in the long-therm.