International Species Action Plan
for the European Roller Coracias garrulus garrulus
Prepared by:
On behalf of the European Commission
International Species Action Plan for the European Roller Coracias garrulus garrulus
The present action plan was commissioned by the European Commission and prepared by
BirdLife International as subcontractor to the “N2K Group” in the frame of Service Contract
N#070307/2007/488316/SER/B2 “Technical and scientific support in relation to the
implementation of the 92/43 ‘Habitats’ and 79/409 ‘Birds’ Directives”.
Compilers
Andras Kovacs, MME/BirdLife Hungary; kovacs.andras@mme.hu
Boris Barov, BirdLife International, boris.barov@birdlife.org
Canan Orhun & Umberto Gallo-Orsi, Rubicon Foundation, info@rubiconfoundation.org
List of Contributors
Austria:
Belarus:
Bulgaria:
Czech Republic:
Estonia:
France:
Hungary:
Latvia:
Lithuania:
Poland:
Portugal:
Romania:
Serbia:
Slovakia:
Slovenia:
Spain:
Turkey:
Ukraine:
United Kingdom:
Peter Sackl, Michael Tiefenbach, Dr. Reinhold Turk*
Maxim Tarantovich
Emil Todorov
Lukáš Viktora*
Andres Kalamees
Patrick Mayet*, Francois Tron
Ildikó Czeczon, Gergő Halmos, András Kovács, Tünde Ludnai, Gábor
Szilágyi, Tamás Szitta, Rita Rausz, Zoltán Vajda, Sándor Urbán*
Edmunds Racinskis
Liutauras Raudonikis
Jerzy Grzybek, Konrad Kata, Miroslaw Kata, Tadeusz Sobus
Domingos Leitão
Sebastian Bugariu, Ciprian Fantana
Otto Szekeres, Marco Tucakov*
Mirko Bohus
Borut Rubinić
Radovan Vaclav, Francisco Valera Hernández*, Albert Burgas i Riera*
Kiraz Erciyas
Kostyantyn Redinov*
Dr. Fiona Sanderson*
* experts who were not able to attend the SAP workshop
Milestones in the Production of the Plan
Draft 1.0 sent to all Contributors and published online: June, 2008
Workshop: 22-24 July 2008, Besenyőtelek, Hungary
Draft 2.0 published online: August 2008
First consultation with Member states: 10 October 2008
Draft 3.0 submitted to EC: 30 November 2008
Second consultation with Member States: 05 December 2008
International Species Working Group
At the SAP workshop 22-24 July 2008, held in Besenyőtelek, Hungary, participants decided
to establish an informal Species Conservation Working Group.
2
Reviews
This Species Action Plan should be reviewed and updated every ten years (first review in
2018). An emergency review will be undertaken if there is a sudden major change liable to
affect one of the populations or subspecies.
Photo Credits: © Tamás Szitta
Recommended Citation
Kovacs A., Barov B., Orhun C., Gallo-Orsi U. (2008) International Species Action Plan for the
European Roller Coracias garrulus garrulus (…) p. ISSN (…)
Geographical scope of the action plan
This action plan is applicable to the range states of the European Roller Coracias garrulus in
the European Union (Table 1).
However, given the significance of other range states outside the EU but within the
geographical borders of Europe, and the conservation problems that affect the European
Roller in and beyond that region, the geographical scope of the Action Plan has been
extended to include the entire European breeding range of the species.
Map 1. The geographical distribution of the European Roller (BirdLife International 2008)
3
Table 1. European range states of the European Roller (BirdLife International 2008), member
states of the EU in bold.
Range states
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Breeding
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Migration
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Wintering
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
Czech Republic
extinct
No
no
Estonia
France
Georgia
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav
Republic of
Montenegro
Moldova
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia (European)
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Turkey
Ukraine
extinct
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
No
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
extinct
yes
yes
yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
4
Table of Contents
0 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 6
1 - BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT................................................................................................. 9
Taxonomy and biogeographic populations .................................................................................... 9
Distribution throughout the annual cycle..................................................................................... 9
Habitat requirements..................................................................................................................... 9
Survival and productivity ........................................................................................................... 10
Population size and trend............................................................................................................ 11
2 – THREATS.................................................................................................................................. 14
General overview of threats ......................................................................................................... 14
List of critical threats................................................................................................................... 14
Problem tree................................................................................................................................. 16
3 - POLICIES AND LEGISLATION RELEVANT FOR MANAGEMENT.......................... 17
National policies, legislation........................................................................................................ 18
Recent conservation activities ..................................................................................................... 18
4 - FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION............................................................................................... 19
Goal.............................................................................................................................................. 19
Objectives of the plan................................................................................................................... 19
Results ......................................................................................................................................... 19
Actions......................................................................................................................................... 20
.5 - REFERENCES AND THE MOST RELEVANT LITERATURE ....................................... 27
ANNEX 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 29
Threats importance at population/group of countries level......................................................... 29
ANNEX 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 32
Table 2a. Most important sites for the Roller in the European Union and their SPA status ..... 32
Table 2b. Most important sites for the Roller in non-EU countries and their protection status 37
ANNEX 3 ......................................................................................................................................... 45
National legal status.................................................................................................................... 45
Recent or ongoing conservation measures................................................................................... 46
Ongoing monitoring schemes for the species .............................................................................. 48
ANNEX 4 ......................................................................................................................................... 50
Knowledge gaps regarding Roller conservation (as defined at the SAP Workshop) ................... 50
Overview of the coverage of the species in networks of sites with legal protection status........... 52
5
0 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The European Roller Coracias garrulus has an unfavourable conservation status and it is
classified as Vulnerable in Europe and in the EU (BirdLife International 2004a, b). It is
classified as SPEC 2. It has undergone moderately rapid declines across its global range and
it is consequently considered globally Near Threatened (IUCN 2008).
The European Roller is listed in the following international legislation:
o EU Birds Directive Annex I
o Bern Convention Appendix II
o Bonn Convention Appendix II
It has a large global population; including an estimated number of 55,000-117,000 breeding
pairs in Europe (50-74% of the global breeding range) and 13,000-25,000 breeding pairs in the
EU 27.
Following a moderate decline during 1970-1990, the species has continued to decline by up to
25% across Europe during 1990-2000 (including in key populations in Turkey and European
Russia). Overall European declines exceeded 30% in three generations (15 years). Populations
in northern Europe have undergone severe declines and even local extinctions, for example
in Russia it has disappeared from the northern part of its range and it recently went extinct in
the Czech Republic, Slovenia and in Estonia.
The European Roller is restricted to the Palearctic, breeding from north-west Africa and the
Iberian Peninsula eastwards through the Mediterranean to the western Himalayas. Over half
of the global breeding range lies within Europe, where the strongholds are in Spain, Russia,
Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, which together hold about 90% of the European
breeding population.
The Roller winters in the Afro-tropical region, mainly in eastern and south-east Africa.
The main causes of recent widespread decline are considered the loss of suitable habitat due
to changing agricultural practices and loss of nest sites, use of pesticides and sustained
persecution along the migration routes.
Critical threats affecting the Roller population in Europe are the conversion of permanent
grassland to other land use, land abandonment and reduced management of meadows and
pastures, destruction of microhabitats for large insects (tracks, hedges, beetle banks,
uncultivated land) and loss of large trees in small wood formations, riverine woods, in
hedges or solitary ones.
Goal
To restore the European population of the Roller to a favourable conservation status.
The target for restoring the favourable conservation status of the Roller in the EU is to:
- maintain a population considerably larger than 10,000 breeding pairs;
- Restore the area of the distribution to 1990 levels (cf. EBCC Atlas of European
Breeding Birds, Hagemejer & Blair, 1997);
- In the short term, halt the decline of the species. In the long term - maintain overall
stable population trend for at least 3 generations (15 years).
6
Objectives of the plan
Objective 1
Clarify the population status and viability of Roller populations in Europe by
2012.
Objective 2
Stop the decline of the European population by 2020 and promote conditions
that will help populations to recover to favourable conservation status and
will allow for range expansion in Europe.
Results
Result 1.1
Better planned and implemented Roller conservation measures.
Result 1.2
Increased knowledge on the status, distribution and survival of Roller
populations.
Result 1.3
Higher level of awareness of key stakeholders achieved.
Result 2.1
Sufficient area of foraging habitat in terms of size and quality available
throughout the distribution range.
Result 2.2
Sufficient number of nest-sites available throughout the breeding range.
Result 2.3
Mortality reduced to a level where it is not a limiting factor of population
expansion
Most important actions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Develop national species action plans.
Identify and protect under national and/or international (e.g. Natura 2000) legislation the
priority areas.
Develop site management plans for Roller priority areas or include Roller conservation
measures in existing ones
Develop monitoring schemes and implement annual monitoring on Roller populations
and breeding success.
Fill critical knowledge gaps, develop and implement research plans focusing on Roller
mortality, survival rates, factors influencing productivity and factors limiting expansion.
Design and promote best practice agro-environmental and forest-environmental
measures targeting Roller (e.g. to ensure that old cavity trees are not cut by forestry
operations).
Raise the awareness about the value and conservation status of the Roller among key
stakeholders (nature conservation organisations, landowners, farmers, experts on
chemical plant protection, foresters, municipalities, electric utilities, urban and
infrastructure development planners, general public).
Prevent the conversion of permanent grasslands to other land use.
Promote / improve environmental impact assessment of irrigation schemes.
Protect and restore non-productive features such as tracks, ditches, fallow and beetle
banks and non-sprayed patches to increase prey availability.
Identify and ban insecticides and herbicides with adverse effects on Roller populations in
priority areas. Reduce pesticide use; promote low-chemical-input farming.
7
•
Promote international cooperation for the study of movements and threats along flyways.
8
1 - BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Description
The European Roller is a Jackdaw-sized bird, called “Blue Crow” in several European
languages (Fry & Fry 1999). Unmistakable in Europe: the whole head, neck and underparts
are uniformly bright light blue while mantle, scapulars and tertials are rufous-brown. The
wing covers are violet and light blue and the primary feathers black.
Taxonomy and biogeographic populations
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
Chordata
Aves
Coraciiformes
Coraciidae
Coracias
Coracias garrulus Linnaeus, 1758
The Roller Coracias garrulus is a polytypic species with two subspecies: the nominate C. g.
garrulus breeds from Morocco, south-west and south-central Europe and Asia Minor east
through north-west Iran to south-west Siberia (Russia); C. g. semenowi, breeds in Iraq and
Iran (except northwest where the nominate race occurs) east to Kashmir and north to
Turkmenistan, south Kazakhstan and northwest China (west Sinkiang) (Fry & Fry 1999).
The present Action Plan applies to the populations of the nominate subspecies Coracias
garrulus garrulus within the European Union.
Distribution throughout the annual cycle
All populations of the European Roller are long-distance migrants. The European Roller
migrates diurnally, singly or in small parties, birds follow each other in a steady stream.
Spring migration takes place between March and June, mainly in April/May, while autumn
migration is between August and November, mainly in September/October.
The species over-winters in two distinct regions of Africa, from Senegal east to Cameroon
and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa. It winters primarily in dry
wooded savannah and bushy plains (BirdLife International 2008).
Habitat requirements
The European Roller breeds throughout temperate, steppe and Mediterranean zones
characterized by reliable warm summer weather. Accordingly, it occurs in the continental
interior avoiding oceanic influence. This species breeds in Europe mainly where annual
temperature sum exceeds ca. 1400 degree days above 5°C, coldest month mean temperature
is above ca.–10°C, and seasonal moisture deficiency is not extreme (Huntley et al. 2007).
It is a predominantly lowland species. Breeding habitat types preferred by the Roller are
open forests, old parks, riverine forests, orchards, poplar and willow stands and riverbanks.
On farmland, Rollers mostly occur in open Mediterranean habitats, arable and improved
9
grassland, steppe habitats, perennial crop, pastoral woodland, agricultural habitats (Cramp
1985; Tucker & Evans 1997).
They mainly nest in abandoned woodpecker (especially Green Woodpecker Picus viridis)
cavities in oaks (Quercus sp.), pines (especially Pinus sylvestris) and in White Poplars (Populus
alba), less frequently in Willows Salix sp. and in natural cavities of Planes (Platanus orientalis),
mainly 4-10 m up (Fry & Fry 1999, Butler 2001, Poole 2007.). Where suitable trees are lacking
they nest in exposed banks, walls, or fissured rock-faces (Cramp 1985) and often in loess and
sand cliffs, especially where other hollow nesting birds are also present. Provision of suitable
nest-boxes can increase the population size significantly in areas where natural cavities are
scarce (Avilés et al. 1999). Rollers in France exhibit a strong preference for cavities with a
south-westerly or north-westerly aspect (Butler 2001).
Rollers have formerly been described as aggressively territorial, solitary breeders (Samwald
& Štumberger 1997), but they occur in distinct meta-populations and they are distributed in
clusters within these meta-populations.
They mostly forage in agricultural habitats, especially meadows (May & August) and cereals
(June & July). Rollers hunt from suitable commanding lookout posts on trees, overhead
wires, etc. above bare or sparsely vegetated ground or short vegetation providing little cover
for prey. They stoop on prey as the birds move only clumsily for brief distances on the
ground (Cramp 1985).
The species is extremely polyphagous, eating a wide variety of invertebrates and
occasionally vertebrates or even fruits (Thiollay 1985, Klausnitzer 1963, Cramp 1985). They
prey upon hard insects, mainly Coleoptera and Orthoptera followed by Araneae and
Hymenoptera (Tidmarsh 2003, Avilés & Parejo 2002). Animals other than insects comprise
about 3% of prey: scorpions, millipedes, centipedes, spiders, worms, molluscs, frogs, lizards,
snakes, small mammals and birds (Fry & Fry 1999).
Survival and productivity
The species has a monogamous mating system (Dementiev & Gladkov 1951). Nest-site and
hunting area fidelity for up to 3 years was observed (Robel & Bude 1982, Hüe & Rivoire
1947).
The generation length of the Roller is approximately 5 and half years (BirdLife International,
unpublished data). The age of first breeding in captive birds is one year but regular occurrence
of non-breeders suggest that most birds in the wild do not breed before their second year
(Glutz & Bauer 1980).
Scarce available data on nest re-occupation suggest relatively high survival rate of adults
(Václav, R., Valera, F., Martínez, T., unpublished data; Racinskis, unpublished data).
Breeding cycle starts usually in April/May and ends in August with the peak period in mid
June/mid July. The egg-laying period is between May and July, mainly mid June to mid July.
Incubation lasts about 18 (17-20) days, and the fledging period is 26-27 days (Fry & Fry 1999).
The 4 (2-7) eggs are incubated mainly by the female, who starts before the clutch has been
completed (Cramp 1985, Avilés et al. 1999, Fry & Fry 1999, Václav, pers. comm.). The mean
clutch size varies between 3.59 (Poland, Sosnowski & Chmielewski 1996) and 5.07 (Spain,
10
Avilés et al. 1999)
The reproductive success (fledging/successful nest) in declining Polish (Sosnowski &
Chmielewski 1996) and German (Creutz 1979) populations is between 1.5 – 1.8, while in
increasing populations in south-west Spain and in France is 3.74 (Avilés et al. 1999) and 4.0 5.4 respectively (Poole 2007).
In south-west Spain Rollers nesting in nest-boxes erected in open pasture field had the
highest breeding success, suggesting that this is the most suitable habitat for Rollers in the
region. Agricultural practices around nests negatively affected the breeding success resulting
in reduced egg productivity and increased chick mortality, with higher losses in irrigated
fields (Avilés & Parejo 2004). In the Northern range countries Pine Marten (Martes martes) is
an important clutch predator.
Population size and trend
The Roller has a large global population, including an estimated number of 55,000 - 117,000
breeding pairs in Europe (50-74% of the global breeding range) and 13,000-25,000 breeding
pairs in the EU 27.
The species has gone extinct in a number of countries in the past century, including
Germany, Denmark, Sweden (Snow & Perrins, 1998) and Finland (Avilés et al. 1999), possibly
due to habitat loss as a result of agricultural intensification (Snow & Perrins 1998).
The species in Europe underwent a moderate decline between 1970– 1990. With few
exceptions, it continued to decline across most of its European range during 1990–2000 including key populations in Turkey and Russia (BirdLife International 2004a). The overall
declines exceeded 30% in three generations (15 years). Populations in northern Europe have
undergone severe declines (Estonia: from 50-100 pairs in 1998 to no breeding pairs in 2004;
Lithuania: from 1,000-2,000 pairs in 1970s to 20 pairs in 2004), and in Russia it has now
disappeared from the northern part of its range. However, there is no evidence of any
declines in Central Asia (BirdLife International 2008).
According to the modelled climate changes the climatic conditions suitable for the species
will contract in the south of Europe (Spain, Italy and Greece) while they will expand further
north and east (Huntley et al. 2007).
11
Map 2. Population trends for the 1990 - 2000 period (BirdLife International 2004a)
No. of pairs
< 1800
< 5500
< 11000
< 43000
Present
Extinct
Coracias
garrulus
Table 2. Population size and trend by country
Georgia
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Breeding Population
trend in the last 15 years
(= 3 generations)
Quality
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
France
Breeding pairs.
Quality
Country
Year(s) of the
latest
estimate
10 - 50
300 - 650
10 - 18
1,000 – 5,000
20 - 50
2,500 – 5,500
0-5
2,000 – 4,000
0
1–5
800 – 1,000
M
M
G
P
M
M
M
P
G
G
M
2002
2000-2002
2001-2008
1996-2000
2008
1990-2005
2002
1994-2000
2000
2003-2007
2007
decline
stable
stable
stable
large decline
small increase
large decline
small increase
extinct
moderate decline
moderate increase
P
M
G
P
M
M
P
P
M
M
present
200 - 300
1,000
300 - 400
20 - 30
35 - 50
P
G
P
G
G
1995-2000
2007
2003
2005
2007
small decline
stable
stable
large decline
large decline
P
G
P
M
G
12
Quality
P
moderate decline
P
50 - 80
M
large decline
P
Poland
60 - 80
G
2007
moderate decline
M
Portugal
80 - 150
M
2001-2005
moderate decline
P
Romania
4,600 – 6,500
P
2002
small decline?
P
Russia (European)
6,000 – 20,000
P
1990-2000
moderate decline
M
70 - 120
M
2007-2008
small increase
M
Slovakia
Slovenia
1 - 20
0
P
2008
2008
large decline
possibly extinct
P
M
Spain
Turkey
Ukraine
2,000 – 6,000
30,000 – 60,000
4,000 – 5,000
M
P
M
2006
2001
1990-2000
moderate decline
moderate decline
large decline
P
P
G
Total EU (27)
Total Europe
13,000 – 25,000
55,000 – 117,000
Macedonia, the
Former Yugoslav
Republic of
Moldova
Serbia
Breeding pairs.
Quality
Breeding Population
trend in the last 15 years
(= 3 generations)
Country
300 – 1,000
Year(s) of the
latest
estimate
decline
decline
Notes: G – Good; M – Medium; P – Poor.
13
2 – THREATS
General overview of threats
The loss of suitable habitat due to changing agricultural practices, loss of nest sites,
and use of pesticides are considered to be the main causes of recent widespread
decline (BirdLife International 2004a). Very few and sporadic pieces of information
are available on the survival of Rollers on their migration routes as well as in their
wintering areas. Available information about mortality factors such as electrocution
does not allow precise modelling of their overall effects on Roller populations.
Nevertheless, the difference in breeding success between declining and
stable/increasing populations indicates that habitat changes in the breeding habitat
are having a negative impact on the population.
List of critical threats
This list was defined at an experts’ workshop using the following definitions:
Critical: a factor causing or likely to cause very rapid declines and/or extinction;
High: a factor causing or likely to cause rapid decline leading to depletion;
Medium: a factor causing or likely to cause relatively slow but significant declines.
The difference in breeding success between declining and stable/increasing
populations as described above let the participants assume, also in the lack of
available information regarding mortality outside the breeding season, that the
survival rate of adults is not a limiting factor (Václav, R., Valera, F., Martínez, T.,
unpublished data).
•
•
•
•
Land abandonment/ reduced management (e.g. meadows and pastures)
Roller requires grazed grasslands as tall and dense grass cover reduces its
hunting success.
Intensification of grassland management
The
intensification
of
management
(fertilization,
ploughing,
seeding/promotion of few grass species, pest control) reduces the biomass
and diversity of potential prey for the species.
Conversion of permanent grassland to other land use
The transformation of pastures in other cultures or land uses (e.g. olive groves
or in herbaceous monocultures) reduce habitat and food availability for the
Roller.
Increasing habitat homogeneity (e.g. loss of field margins and increased
field size)
The intensification of agriculture is resulting in the creation of large fields and
the reduction of the extent of field margins hedgerows, tracks, ditches and
fallow land that represent important habitat for the species’ prey and offer
nesting opportunity for the Roller.
14
•
Intensification of forest management leading to loss of old trees
The Roller requires large trees, often partially dead. The intensification of
forest practices is promoting the removal of dead/decaying trees (considered
a potential source of pathogens and pests) and the replacement with fast
growing trees that are not suitable for the species.
The species has only recently been recognised as in need of specific conservation
actions; Decision makers at all levels as well as site managers are not aware of the
importance of the species to meet their conservation targets.
The Roller’s detailed habitat requirement and - more crucially - the limiting factors
and their relative importance are still poorly known. Researchers need to fill the large
knowledge gap that this action plan has identified.
15
Problem tree
The problem tree includes threats considered critical (1) and important (2) based on available key knowledge. The full list of threats is
shown in Annex 1. The small tree identifies threats related to forest management and policies; the tractor indicates threats by agriculture
practices and policies.
16
3 - POLICIES AND LEGISLATION RELEVANT FOR MANAGEMENT
Bern Convention - Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural
Habitats
Category:
Appendix II
Aim:
To maintain populations of wild flora and fauna with particular emphasis on
endangered and vulnerable species, including migratory species.
Appendix II: lists protected fauna species.
EU Birds Directive – Council Directive on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC)
Category:
Annex I
Aim:
to protect wild birds and their habitats, e.g. through the designation of Special
Protection Areas (SPAs).
Annex I:
The directive requires that species listed in Annex I ‘shall be subject of special
conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to ensure their survival
and reproduction in their area of distribution ’ and that ‘Member States shall
classify in particular the most suitable territories in number and size as special
protection areas for the conservation of these species, taking into account their
protection requirements in the geographical sea and land area where this
Directive applies ’.
Bonn Convention - Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
Category:
Appendix II
Aim:
To conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their
range.
Appendix II refers to migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status or
would benefit significantly from international co-operation organised by
tailored agreements. The Convention encourages the Range States to conclude
global or regional Agreements for the conservation and management of
individual species or, more often of a group, of species listed in Appendix II.
1
2
3
4
5
Global
status1
European
status2
SPEC
category3
EU
Status
NT
VU (A2b)
2
VU
EU Bird
Directive
Annex4
I
Bern
Convention
Appendix5
II
Bonn
Convention
Appendix6
II
IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Categories: EX = Extinct; EW = Extinct in the Wild; CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered;
VU = Vulnerable; LR = Lower Risk, CD = conservation dependent, NT = near threatened, LC = least
concern; DD = data deficient, NE = Not Evaluated.
BirdLife International (2004a) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status.
Second edition. Wageningen, The Netherlands: BirdLife International. (BirdLife Conservation Series
No. 12). Categories as above
BirdLife International (2004b) Birds in the European Union: a status assessment. Wageningen, The
Netherlands: BirdLife International.
The species shall be subjected to special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to
ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution.
Give special attention to the protection of areas that are of importance (Article 4) and ensure the
17
6
special protection of the species (Article 6). For more details see the Convention text.
Animals for which agreements need to be made for the conservation and management of these species.
For more details see the Convention text.
National policies, legislation
The Roller is a protected species throughout most of its distribution range (Annex 3 provides
an overview of the protection status in Europe). The species is listed in Annex I of the Birds
Directive and is protected in all EU countries.
The inclusion of the species breeding territories in protected areas varies considerably
between countries. Where the species has small populations and is concentrated, it has been
well covered by SPAs (e.g. 100% in Austria, Estonia and Slovakia). Over 50% of the national
populations are in SPAs in Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal and Latvia. Only a quarter of the
Polish population is captured by the SPA network and the percentage is only 10% in Spain.
IBAs cover over half of the Serbian population, but most of them are not legally protected.
Recent conservation activities
Species action plans have been developed in Hungary, Latvia, and Andalusia (Spain); similar
documents are being drafted in Slovakia and Catalonia (Spain). Working groups (incl.
informal structures and mostly composed by volunteers) are present in Austria, Belarus,
France, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia and Slovakia. (Annex 4)
Most range countries have monitoring programmes in place at different scales (national,
regional, local) (Annex 5)
In Latvia conservation actions are being implemented since the compilations of the national
action plan. Nest boxes, often in the frame of research programmes have been installed in
France, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Spain.
18
4 - FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION
Goal
To restore the European population of the Roller to a favourable conservation status.
The target for favourable conservation status of the Roller in the EU is to:
- maintain a population larger than 10,000 breeding pairs;
- restore the area of the distribution to 1990 levels (cf. EBCC Atlas of European Breeding
Birds, Hagemejer & Blair, 1997);
- In the short term, halt the decline of the species. In the long term - maintain overall
stable population trend for at least 3 generations (15 years).
Objectives of the plan
Objective 1
Clarify the population status and viability of Roller populations in Europe by
2012.
Objective 2
Stop the decline of the European population by 2020 and promote conditions
that will help populations to recover to favourable conservation status and will
allow for range expansion in Europe.
Results
Result 1.1
Better planned and implemented Roller conservation measures.
Result 1.2
Increased knowledge on the status, distribution and survival of Roller
populations.
Result 1.3
Higher level of awareness of key stakeholders achieved.
Result 2.1
Sufficient foraging habitat is available throughout the distribution range in
terms of size and quality.
Result 2.2
Sufficient number of nest-sites is available throughout the breeding
distribution.
Result 2.3
Reduced mortality to a level where it is not a limiting factor of population
expansion.
19
Actions
Table 3 Actions corresponding to the results and ranked according to their importance, following from the problem tree.
Results
Actions
Overall
priority
level
Objective 1. Clarify the population status and viability of Roller populations in Europe by 2012.
1.1 Better planned and
1.1.1 Develop national species action plans.
C
implemented Roller
Critical: all range countries.
conservation measures.
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.2 Increased knowledge on
the status, distribution,
survival and effective
conservation measures
for Roller populations.
Legally protect under national and/or international
(e.g. Natura 2000) legislation the priority areas.
Critical: all range countries
Develop site management plans for Roller priority
areas or include Roller conservation measures in
existing ones
Critical: all range countries
1.1.4 Increase the effectiveness of Environmental Impact
Assessments for projects affecting Roller habitats.
Critical: all range countries.
1.2.1. Develop monitoring schemes and implement annual
monitoring on Roller populations and breeding
success.
Critical: all range countries.
Time scale
Responsible
organization
Short
Ministries of
Environment, National
nature conservation
authorities
Ministries of
Environment, National
nature conservation
authorities
Site management
authorities
C
Medium
C
Medium
C
Short
C
Short
National nature
conservation
authorities
NGOs and scientific
institutions and
national conservation
authorities in the
member states
20
1.2.2. Fill critical knowledge gaps, develop and implement
research plans focusing on Roller mortality, survival
rates, factors influencing productivity and factors
limiting expansion.
Critical: all range countries.
1.2.3. Define priority areas for Roller conservation
Critical: all range countries
1.2.4. Design and promote best practice agroenvironmental measures targeting Roller.
Critical: all range countries.
1.2.5. Design and promote best practice forestry measures
targeting Roller.
Critical: all range countries.
1.2.6. Develop best practice guide for nest box placement,
design and maintenance to reduce nest site
competition with other species and natural
predation.
Critical: Slovakia
High: Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Spain.
1.2.7. Analyse Roller carcasses to investigate secondary
poisoning. Identify poisoning chemicals and
promote their restriction/banning in Roller priority
areas.
High: Romania, Spain.
C
Short
NGOs and scientific
institutions in the
member states
C
Immediate
C
Medium
C
Medium
C
Short
NGOs and scientific
institutions in the
member states
NGOs and scientific
institutions in the
member states
NGOs and scientific
institutions in the
member states
NGOs and scientific
institutions in the
member states
L
Long
NGOs and scientific
institutions in the
member states
21
1.3 Higher level of
awareness of key
stakeholders achieved
1.3.1
1.3.2
Raise the awareness about the value and
conservation status of the Roller among key
stakeholders (nature conservation organisations,
landowners, farmers, experts on chemical plant
protection, foresters, municipalities, electric utilities,
urban and infrastructure development planners,
general public). Critical: all range countries.
Critical: all range countries.
Ensure that state, regional and local nature
conservation agencies are aware of Roller priority
areas,
High: France, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Spain.
C
Short
NGOs and scientific
institutions in the
member states
M
Long
Ministries of
Environment
Objective 2. Stop the decline of the European population by 2020 and promote conditions which will help populations and range expansion
in Europe
Results
Actions
Overall
Time scale
Responsible
organization
Priority
level
2.1 Sufficient foraging
2.1.1 Promote habitat heterogeneity through e.g. agroH
Medium
Ministries of
habitat is available
environmental schemes.
Environment,
throughout the
Critical: Portugal
Agriculture, National
distribution range in
High: Belarus, Bulgaria, France, Portugal, Romania,
nature conservation
terms of size and
Slovakia, Spain
authorities
quality.
2.1.2 Promote legal restrictions to prevent the conversion
H
Long
Ministries of
of permanent grasslands to other land use.
Environment,
Critical: Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Serbia,
Agriculture, National
Slovakia, Spain.
nature conservation
High: Estonia, France, Romania.
authorities
22
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.1.5
2.1.6
2.1.7
Promote grazing livestock practices and hay mowing
on meadows and grasslands by increasing the
economic viability of livestock farming in high
priority Roller areas through agro-environmental
schemes or other rural development measures.
Critical: Hungary, Poland.
High: Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Latvia, Lithuania,
Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain.
Promote / improve environmental impact
assessment of irrigation schemes.
Critical: Portugal.
High: Belarus, Romania, Slovakia, Spain.
Promote set aside retention in fallow land (through
voluntary measures if not legally required).
Critical: France, Poland.
High: Hungary.
Protect and restore non-productive features such as
tracks, ditches, fallow and beetle banks and nonsprayed patches to increase prey availability.
Critical: France, Poland.
High: Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain.
Identify and ban insecticides and herbicides with
adverse effects on Roller populations in priority
areas. Reduce pesticide use, promote low-chemicalinput farming.
Critical: Austria, Bulgaria.
High: Belarus, France, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia,
Spain.
H
Long
Ministries of
Environment,
Agriculture, National
nature conservation
authorities
H
Long
Ministries of
Environment,
Agriculture
M
Long
Ministries of
Environment,
Agriculture
H
Medium
H
Medium
Ministries of
Environment,
Agriculture, National
nature conservation
authorities
Ministries of
Environment,
Agriculture
23
2.1.8
Support organic farming using Roller as flagship
speies.
Critical: Austria, Bulgaria
High: Belarus, France, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia,
Spain.
2.1.9 Ensure that cross-compliance requirements are
strictly adhered to; especially avoid afforestation of
pastures and other permanent grasslands.
High: Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, also Serbia
2.1.10 Ensure that Roller priority areas are taken into
account during urban development planning.
High: France, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Spain.
2.1.11 Provide natural and artificial perches for hunting in
areas where they are missing.
High: Bulgaria, France, Poland, Slovakia.
2.2. Sufficient number of
nest-sites is available
throughout the
breeding distribution
2.2.1
2.2.2
Ensure that old cavity trees are not cut by forestry
operations.
Critical: France, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia.
High: Belarus, Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Spain
Conserve riverbank trees and riparian forests as
protected habitat types and features of the
landscape.
Critical: France, Poland, Slovakia.
High: Bulgaria, Romania.
M
Long
Ministries of
Environment,
Agriculture and NGOs
M
Long
Ministries of
Environment,
Agriculture
M
Long
M
Long
H
Long
M
Long
Ministries of
Environment, National
spatial planning
authorities
Nature conservation
authorities, site
managers, farmers
beneficiaries to agrienvironment
Ministries of
Environment, Forest
agency, National
nature conservation
authorities
Ministries of
Environment, Forestry
agency, National
nature conservation
authorities
24
2.2.3
2.2.4
2.2.5
2.2.6
2.2.7
2.3. Reduced mortality to a
level where it is not a
limiting factor of
population expansion
2.3.1
2.3.2
Map, protect and restore hedges and suitable wood
lots, trees in farmland.
Critical: Slovakia.
High: Austria, Belarus, France, Poland, Spain.
Promote planting of native soft woods and the
elimination of introduced tree species in Roller
priority areas through forestry planning and site
management plans.
Critical: Poland.
High: Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia.
Promote legal protection of sand cliffs as breeding
habitat for Rollers and other birds
Critical: Spain, Bulgaria
Install nest boxes including in areas with healthy
populations but with likely shortage of nest sites.
Critical: Poland.
High: Bulgaria, Slovakia, Spain.
Provide alternative nest sites (nest boxes) near old
buildings with nests to avoid nest-site destruction.
Critical: Portugal.
High: Spain.
Promote international cooperation for the study of
Roller movements and the threats along flyways.
Critical: all range countries.
Promote bird friendly electric pylon design. Replace,
modify or retrofit power lines to prevent Roller
electrocution in priority areas.
High: Hungary, Portugal.
M
Long
Ministry of
Environment, National
nature conservation
authorities
Ministries of
Environment, Forestry
agency
M
Long
M
Medium
Ministry of
Environment
M
Long
L
Medium
H
Long
NGOs and nature
conservation
authorities, protected
area managers
NGOs and nature
conservation
authorities, protected
area managers
Ministries of
Environment, NGOs
M
Medium
Ministries of
Environment, utilities
25
2.3.3
Priority level:
C - Critical
H - High
M - Medium
L - Low
Introduce temporary speed limit restrictions in core
breeding areas.
High: Spain.
L
Medium
National nature
conservation authority,
National traffic
regulation authorities
Time scales attached to each Action:
completed within the next year.
- Immediate:
- Short:
completed within the next 3 years.
completed within the next 5 years.
- Medium:
completed within the next 10 years.
- Long:
26
5 - REFERENCES AND THE MOST RELEVANT LITERATURE
Avilés J.M., Parejo D. (2002) Diet and prey type selection by Rollers Coracias garrulus during
the breeding season in southwest of the Iberian peninsula, Alauda, 66:,313-314.
Avilés J.M., Parejo D. (2004) Farming practices and Roller Coracias garrulus conservation in
south-west Spain. Bird Conservation International, 14(3): p. 173-181.
Avilés J.M., Sánchez J.M., Parejo D. (2000) Nest-site selection and breeding success in the
Roller (Coracias garrulus) in the southwest of the Iberian peninsula. Journal für Ornithologie,
141: 345 - 350.
Avilés J.M., Sánchez J.M., Parejo D. (2001) Nest-boxes used by Eurasian kestrels Falco
tinnunculus are preferred by Rollers Coracias garrulus. Folia Zoologica, 50: 317-320.
Avilés J.M., Sanchez J.M., Sanchez A., Parejo D. (1999) Breeding biology of the Roller Coracias
garrulus in farming areas of the southwest Iberian Peninsula, Bird Study 46: 217-223.
BirdLife International (2004a) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation
status. Cambridge,UK: BirdLife International. (BirdLife Conservation Series No.12).
BirdLife International (2004b) Birds in the European Union: a status assessment.
Wageningen, The Netherlands: BirdLife International.
BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Coracias garrulus. http://www.birdlife.org
Bračko F. (1986) Naglo upadanje številčnosti zlatovranke Coracias garrulus v Sloveniji. [Rapid
decrease of European Roller Coracias garrulus abundance in Slovenia]. Acrocephalus 7 (30):
49-52.
Brotons L., Mañosa S., Estrada J. (2004) Modelling the effects of irrigation schemes on the
distribution of steppe birds in Mediterranean farmland. Biodiversity and Conservation. 13
(5): 1039-1058.
Butler S. (2001) Nest-site selection of the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) in the Vallée des
Baux de Provence. MSc Thesis.
Cramp S. (Ed.) (1985) The birds of the western Palearctic. Vol IV. Terns to Woodpeckers.
Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Creutz G. (1979) Die Entwiclung des Blaurack- enbestandes in der DDR 1961 bis 1976. Der
Falke, 26: 22-230.
Dementiev G.P., Gladkov N.A. (Eds.) (1951) The birds of the Soviet Union, vol. 1. Moscow,
Soviet Science.
Díaz M., Asensio B., Tellería J.L. (1996) Aves Ibéricas. I. No paseriformes. Reyero, Madrid.
Folch A. (1996) Distribución y status de la Carraca Coracias garrulus en Cataluña. Pp. 113-119.
In: Fernández Gutiérrez J., Sanz-Zuasti J. (Eds.). Conservación de las aves esteparias y sus
hábitats. Junta de Castilla y León, Valladolid.
Fry C.H., Fry K. (1999) Kingfishers, Bee-Eaters & Rollers. Christopher Helm, A & C Black.
London.
Glutz von Blotzheim U.N., Bauer K.M. (1980) Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas, band 8.
Akademische Verslagsgesellchaff, Wiesbaden.
Hagemejer,E.J.M. and M. J. Blair (eds.) (1997) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds:
Their Distribution and Abudnance. T & AD Poyser; London.
27
Hellicar M.A. (2006) Landscape management and agriculture – Benefits for wildlife? Paper
presented at ”Landscape Management and its Impact on Wildlife – Opportunities for
Cyprus. “ 29th April 2006, Limassol, Cyprus http://www.cicwildlife.org/fileadmin/Commissions_WG/habitat_fallow_land/WMA_Symp
osium/M.Hellicar_Presentation.pdf
Hüe F., Rivoire A. (1947) Les Rolliers de la vallée du Touloubre, L'oiseau RFO 17: 153-166.
Huntley B., Green R.E., Collingham Y.C., Willis S.G. (2007) A climatic atlas of European
breeding birds. Durham & Sandy, U.K. and Barcelona, Spain: Durham University, RSPB &
Lynx Edicions.
IUCN (2008) The 2008 IUCN Red List of threatened species (www.redlist.org ).
Klausnitzer B. (1963) Zur Zusammensetzung der Jungvogelnahrung der Blauracke (Coracias
garrulus garrulus L.) in der Lausitz. S. A. Abhandl. u. Ber. d. Naturkundemus. Görlitz Bd. 38,
Nr. 16.
Poole T. (2007) An Assessment of the breeding population of the European Roller, Coracias
garrulus, in the Vallée d es Baux. Internal report. A Rocha France. http://en.arocha.org/fren/436-DSY/version/1/part/8/data/roller-breeding-vdb-poole2007.pdf?branch=main&language=en
Robel D., Bude S. (1982) Das Vordringen einiger Vogelarten im Bezirk Cottbus. Natur und
Landschaft Bez. Cottbus 4: 82-86.
Rubinić B., Božič L., Kmecl P., Denac D., Denac K. (2008): Monitoring populacij izbranih vrst
ptic. Vmesno poročilo: rezultati popisov v spomladanski sezoni 2008. [Monitoring of
populations of key bird species. Intermediate report: survey results of 2008 spring season]
Projektna naloga za MOP. Ljubljana, September 2008.
Samwald O. & Štumberger B. (1997) Roller Coracias garrulus. pp. 436-437. In: Hagemeijer
W.J.M., Blair M.J. (eds). The EBCC atlas of European breeding birds: Their distribution and
abundance. T & AD Poyser, London.
Samwald O., Samwald F. (1989) Population numbers, phenology, breeding biology and
decline of Roller (Coracias garrulus) in Styria, Austria. Egretta, 32: 35-57.
Snow D.W., Perrins C.M. (1998) The birds of the Western Palearctic. Concise edition. Oxford
University Press.
Sosnowski J., Chmielewski S. (1996) Breeding biology of the Roller Coracias garrulus in
Puszcza Pilicka Forest (Central Poland). Acta Ornithol., 31: 119- 131.
Thiollay J.-M. (1985) Strategies adaptive comparées des Rolliers sedentaires et migrateurs
dans une savane Guineene. Revue of Ecology (Terre et vie) 40 : 364- 377.
Tidmarsh R. (2004) Nest box contents as an indicator of nestling diet in the European Roller
(Coracias garrulus). Internal report A Rocha France. http://en.arocha.org/fr-en/446DSY/version/1/part/8/data/roller-diet-vdb-tidmarsh2004.pdf?branch=main&language=en
Tucker G.M., Evans M.I. (1997) Habitats for birds in Europe: a conservation strategy for the
wider environment. Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series
no. 6)
28
.
1.2.3. Secondary poisoning by insecticides
1.2.4. Illegal shooting (on migration)
1.2.5. Illegal trapping
1.3. Increased nest mortality
1.3.1. Natural predation
(locally)
1.3.2. Egg and nestling collection
1.3.3. Disturbance (locally)
1.3.4. Competing species for nest sites
2. Decreased reproductive output
2.1. Decreased size of foraging habitat
2.1.1. Land abandonment/ reduced land management
(e.g. meadows and pastures)
?
?
?
?
M
L
L
?
?
H
M
L
L
L
L
M
M
H
H
L
L
L
H
?
L
?
L
L
L
H
M
?
Turkey
L
L
L
L
Spain
?
L
L
?
Slovakia
H
M
L
M
Serbia
L
L
L
L
Romania
L
L
L
Portugal
Lithuania
H
Latvia
?
Hungary
L
L
M
?
France
Bulgaria
L
M
?
?
Estonia
1. Increased mortality
1.1. Increased adult mortality in breeding areas
1.1.1. Electrocution
1.1.2. Road kills
1.1.3. Illegal shooting (breeding areas)
1.1.4. Secondary poisoning by insecticides
1.2. Decreased survival on migration and wintering
1.2.1. Habitat degradation and loss in S Europe (see
above), Middle East and Africa
1.2.2. Increased drought and desertification in Sahel
Belarus
Austria
Threat description
Poland
ANNEX 1
Threats importance at population/group of countries level
?
?
M
M
M
H
L
H
?
L
L
M
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
L
?
M
?
C
M
M
L
L
L
H
H
L
L
M
M
H
H
M
L
L
L
M
M
L
M
M
H
L
M
M
L
L
M
L
L
L
M
H
L
L
M
H
L
L
H
C
H
H
C
?
H
H
M
M
L
L
29
2.1.2. Afforestation of pastures
2.1.3. Increase in monoculture: intensive olive plantation
and fodder
2.1.4. Cultivation of fallow land (no set aside)
2.1.5. Irrigation schemes
2.1.6. Increasing habitat homogeneity (e.g. large land
parcels)
2.1.7. Intensification of grassland management
2.1.8. Disappearing of non productive pieces of land
(tracks, ditches, fallow)
2.1.9. Urbanization of the countryside
2.1.10. Conversion of permanent grasslands to other land
use
2.2. Loss of suitable nest sites
2.2.1. Replacing native soft woods (poplar, willow) with
hard woods (oak) or introduced trees (Robinia
pseudoacacia)
2.2.2. Conversion of natural forests
2.2.3. Logging of used/suitable trees
2.2.4. Clearing of riverbank trees and riparian forests
L
C
L
H
L
M
M
M
L
M
H
M
C
M
M
M
C
L
C
H
M
H
L
M
C
M
M
C
M
H
M
L
L
M
L
H
M
M
C
M
H
H
M
H
H
H
H
M
L
H
M
L
C
L
?
M
M
L
L
M
H
L
M
L
M
L
L
H
M
H
H
?
H
L
M
L
M
C
H
M
M
M
M
L
M
M
L
M
M
L
H
M
M
M
L
C
M
M
L
C
H
M
M
H
H
M
L
M
L
M
?
H
H
H
H
C
M
M
L
M
H
C
H
C
M
H
M
C
H
C
H
C
L
L
L
M
L
L
H
L
L
L
L
M
H
M
L
L
H
H
M
M
H
H
M
M
L
L
C
C
M
C
L
L
M
L
M
M
L
L
H
C
L
H
L
M
H
H
M
C
L
C
C
C
L
H
L
L
M
M
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
H
M
H
H
L
M
2.2.5. Loss old buildings
L
L
2.2.5.1.Renovation
2.2.5.2.Collapse
L
L
2.2.6. Intensification of forest management leading loss of
old trees
2.2.7. Destruction of sand cliffs
2.2.8. Death of old trees with cavities
2.2.8.1. Salination of aquifers
2.2.8.2. No trees to replace old ones.
M
H
H
L
M
L
L
M
H
M
L
M
L
L
L
L
L
L
C
C
L
L
L
L
L
H
H
M
L
L
H
C
C
L
M
L
L
L
L
L
L
M
L
L
L
C
L
C
L
L
L
L
L
L
M
M
L
C
L
M
M
L
H
M
C
H
30
2.2.9. Decrease of green woodpecker (main cavity
provider)
2.2.10. Loss of solitary trees and hedges with old trees
?
L
L
L
H
H
M
2.2.10.1. Management of roadside
2.2.10.2. Removal of hedges for expansion of arable land
2.2.10.3. Wind and other natural reasons
2.2.10.4. Redesign of property limits and landscaping
L
H
M
C
H
L
L
L
M
M
L
L
L
L
L
2.2.11. Reduced number of traditionally put nest boxes
L
L
L
2.2.12. Competition by other species for nest sites
(Jackdaw)
2.2.13. Invasive species (hornet?)
2.3. Decreased quality of foraging habitat
2.3.1. Availability of perches for hunting
2.3.2. Decreased food availability
2.3.2.1. Climatic conditions
2.3.2.2. Insecticides use
2.3.3. Use of herbicides
M
M
L
M
C
M
C
H
L
L
L
M
C
L
M
M
H
L
H
M
H
M
L
L
L
L
M
M
M
M
L
M
H
L
H
M
L
H
M
L
L
M
M
L
L
M
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
L
M
?
L
H
H
H
H
M
C
C
H
M
L
H
H
M
M
H
M
L
L
M
H
C
C
H
M
M
?
M
M
?
L
L
L
L
L
M
?
H
M
M
H
?
H
L
M
M
L
C
C
H
H
L
L
H
L
M
L
H
?
L
L
H
?
L
M
M
M
L
L
M
L
H
H
L
H
M
C
H
H
H
H
M
M
Notes: C – Critical; H – High; M – Medium; L – Low; Empty cell - n/a - not applicable; ? - Not enough information
NB! Information in this table was assessed at the experts’ workshop and is not a complete list of threats from all range states.
31
ANNEX 2
Table 2a. Most important sites for the Roller in the European Union and their SPA status
Country
IBA
Code
Site name
AT043
Area (km2)
SPA Code
Südoststeirisches
Hügelland
108.64
AT2230000
BG009
BG062
BG074
BG096
FR224
Zlatiata
Ludogorie
Nikopolsko plato
Obnova
Gorges du Gardon
434.93
913.86
222.60
54.22
195.84
BG0002009
BG0002062
BG0002074
BG0002096
FR9110081
FR9112031
FR225
Hautes garrigues du
Montpellierais
907.06
FR9112004
Austria
Bulgaria
France
FR9112011
FR9112012
FR229
FR234
FR239
FR240
Etangs de Vendres,
Pissevache et Lespignan
Petite Camargue fluviolacustre
Camargue
Crau
48.66
Name of SPA
Teile des südoststeirischen
Hügellandes inklusive Höll und
Grabenlandbäche
Zlatiata
Ludogorie
Nikopolsko Plateau
Obnova
Gorges du Gardon
Camp des Garigues
Hautes garrigues du
ontpellierais
Gorges de la vis et cirque de
Navacelles
Gorges de Rieutord, Fage et
Cagnasse
Area
(km2)
Total
protected
IBA (km2)
156.67
75.5
434.95
913.88
222.62
54.24
70.11
20.85
434.8
913.3
222.5
54.2
126.8
41.7
455.35
430.3
202.75
0.0
122.81
60.1
FR9110080
Montagne de la Clape
90.14
0.1
FR9110108
Basse plaine de l'Aude
Camargue gardoise fluviolacustre
Petite camargue laguno-marine
Etang de mauguio
Camargue
Camargue
Crau
48.39
45.9
57.12
56.7
156.46
74.06
1,137.57
1,137.57
392.27
4.9
0.0
1.0
760.4
377.2
193.84
FR9112001
762.58
441.57
FR9112013
FR9112017
FR9310019
FR9310019
FR9310064
32
Country
IBA
Code
Site name
Area (km2)
SPA Code
FR245
FR250
FR251
Hungary
Italy
Plateau de l'Arbois,
garrigues de Lancon et
chaîne des Côtes
1.0
FR9312013
269.34
0.1
FR9310064
Crau
392.27
0.8
FR9312001
Marais entre Crau et Grand
Rhône
72.10
52.0
347.23
FR9310069
Garrigues de Lançon et Chaînes
alentour
273.95
263.4
75.91
FR9312009
FR9310110
Plateau de l'Arbois
Plaine des Maures
42.99
45.22
42.7
45.2
105.38
79.1
357.32
774.79
1,207.98
370.45
275.6
527.2
0.4
368.2
357.53
307.3
0.62
0.6
60.38
59.8
287.44
278.6
2.28
0.4
56.58
80.67
HUDI10004
Jászkarajenõi puszták
HU026
HU036
294.84
639.66
HU037
Borsodi-MezÅ‘ség
390.18
HUKN10007
HUBN10004
HUHN10002
HUBN10002
(blank)
Kolon-tó
345.03
HUKN10002
Litorale Romano
338.30
IT6030026
Alsó-Tisza-völgy
Hevesi-sík
Hortobágy
Borsodi-sík
Kiskunsági szikes tavak és az
õrjegi turjánvidék
Lago di Traiano
Castel Porziano (Tenuta
presidenziale)
Lago di Guadalfiera - Foce del
Fiume Biferno
Calanchi Succida - Tappino
IT117
Total
protected
IBA (km2)
72.10
Plaine des Maures
JászkarajenÅ‘ környéki
puszták
Alsó-Tisza-völgy
Hevesi-sík
HU021
Area
(km2)
Marais entre Crau et Grand
Rhône
Les Alpilles
FR9312001
Marais entre Crau et
Grand Rhône:
Meyranne, Chanoine,
Plan de Bourg et Salins
du Caban
Name of SPA
IT6030084
IT125
Fiume Biferno
448.42
IT7228230
IT126
Monti della Daunia
746.10
IT7222108
33
Country
IBA
Code
IT149
IT203
Site name
Marchesato e Fiume
Neto
Gargano Promontory
and Capitanata
Wetlands
SPA Code
Name of SPA
Area
(km2)
IT7222124
IT7222248
IT7222253
IT7222265
IT7222267
Vallone S. Maria
Lago di Occhito
Bosco Ficarola
Torrente Tona
Località Fantina - Fiume Fortore
19.74
24.57
7.17
3.94
3.65
Total
protected
IBA (km2)
9.7
24.1
2.3
1.1
3.2
702.06
IT9320302
Marchesato e Fiume Neto
702.15
1,403.5
312.73
IT9110037
Laghi di Lesina e Varano
152.09
303.8
144.43
278.9
700.57
152.09
1,399.2
303.8
144.43
278.9
700.57
1,399.2
698.36
692.0
195.45
193.4
350.06
347.7
532.03
127.56
112.25
558.67
0.0
0.0
0.0
558.3
7.43
0.0
Area (km2)
IT9110038
2,059.08
IT9110039
IT9110037
IT9110038
IT9110039
(blank)
Lago di Bracciano e
Monti della Tolfa
906.11
IT6030005
IT6030085
Lithuania
LT032
Aukstaitijos nacionalinis
parkas
368.27
LT034
Dzukijos miskai
585.39
LTIGNB003
LTSVEB002
LTVAR0009
LTVARB002
LTVARB005
LTVARB007
Paludi presso il Golfo di
Manfredonia
Promontorio del Gargano
Laghi di Lesina e Varano
Paludi presso il Golfo di
Manfredonia
Promontorio del Gargano
Comprensorio Tolfetano-CeriteManziate
Comprensorio BraccianoMartignano
Vakarine Aukstaitijos
nacionalinio parko dalis
Labanoro giria
Cepkeliu pelke
Cepkeliu pelke
Dainavos giria
Grybaulios zuvininkystes
tvenkiniai
34
Country
Poland
Portugal
Slovenia
Spain
IBA
Code
Site name
Area (km2)
SPA Code
Name of SPA
Area
(km2)
Total
protected
IBA (km2)
1,064.34
PLB280007
Puszcza Napiwodzko-Ramucka
1,167.30
1,052.7
345.38
Doliny Omulwi i P³odownicy
DOLINA DOLNEJ NARWI
Puszcza Napiwodzko-Ramucka
Dolina Dolnego Bugu
Dolina Liwca
Puszcza Bia³a
Serra da Malcata
Canchos de Ramiro y
Ladronera
344.14
259.23
1,167.30
743.21
274.40
838.37
163.56
336.9
0.1
0.0
674.5
0.0
0.1
162.6
230.83
0.2
69.23
790.59
765.72
760.01
472.83
49.45
8.56
66.46
0.2
1,580.8
0.0
0.1
472.2
43.9
8.6
44.3
101.13
0.0
266.30
89.58
34.64
169.2
80.8
34.5
65.22
11.9
52.90
19.24
52.7
19.2
PL053
Puszcza NapiwodzkoRamucka
Dolina Omulwi
PL057
Dolina Dolnego Bugu
698.20
PT008
Serra da Malcata
163.43
PLB140005
PLB140014
PLB280007
PLB140001
PLB140002
PLB140007
PTZPE0007
PT012
Serra de Penha Garcia e
Campina de Toulões
156.79
ES0000434
PT029
Castro Verde
835.72
PT051
Serra do Caldeirão
711.62
ES142
Doli Slovenskih goric
Secanos de Lérida
49.57
937.53
PL038
ES4320001
PTZPE0046
PTZPE0047
PTCON0037
PTCON0057
SI5000004
ES0000321
ES0000322
ES5130014
ES5130016
ES5130021
ES5130025
ES5130032
ES5130036
ES5130037
Canchos de Ramiro
Castro Verde
Vale do Guadiana
Monchique
Caldeirão
Slovenske gorice - doli
Anglesola-Vilagrassa
Granyena
Aiguabarreig Segre-Noguera
Pallaresa
Valls del Sió-Llobregós
Secans de la Noguera
Bellmunt-Almenara
Vessants de la Noguera
Ribagorçana
Plans de Sió
Secans de Belianes-Preixana
35
Country
IBA
Code
ES144
ES168
ES175
ES284
Site name
Cogul-Alfés
Monte El Valle y Sierras
de Altaona y Escalona
Saladares del
Guadalentín
Sierra de Pela-Embalse
de Orellana-Zorita
Area (km2)
SPA Code
Name of SPA
186.27
ES0000021
ES5130038
236.26
ES0000269
Secans de Mas de Melons-Alfés
Secans del Segrià i Utxesa
Monte el valle y Sierras de
Altahona y Escalona
64.41
ES0000268
1,434.65
ES0000068
ES0000333
ES0000367
ES0000400
ES0000401
ES0000408
ES295
Llanos entre Cáceres y
Trujillo-Aldea del Cano
1,062.29
ES0000071
ES0000356
ES0000416
ES0000422
Spain
TOTAL
ES0000425
20,926.82
Saladares del Guadalentin
Embalse de Orellana y Sierra de
Pela
Llanos de Zorita y Embalse de
Sierra Brava
La Serena y sierras periféricas
Arrozales de Palazuelo y
Guadalperales
Colonias de Cernicalo Primilla
de Acedera
Vegas del Ruecas, Cubilar y
Moheda alta
Llanos de Cáceres y Sierra de
Fuentes
Riberos del Almonte
Embalse de Aldea del Cano
Colonias de Cernicalo Primilla
de la ciudad monumental de
Caceres
Magasca
64.22
37.90
Total
protected
IBA (km2)
110.4
26.2
148.23
130.3
30.12
27.2
425.97
419.1
187.76
171.5
1,534.65
0.6
131.24
53.7
0.00
0.0
142.07
142.1
695.84
695.7
82.72
1.09
18.6
0.0
0.16
0.2
108.41
28,167.74
41.6
19,689.7
Area
(km2)
36
Table 2b. Most important sites for the Roller in non-EU countries and their protection status
Year Season Accuracy
Country International
Area
Location
Population
and national
(ha)
Lat
Long
Min
Max
name
11,,000
?
?
13
16
2008
B
Good
Serbia
SuboticaHorgoš
Sands
(Subotičkohorgoška
peščara)
Serbia
Kapetanski
Rit and
surrounding
continental
Salinas
(Kapetnski rit
i okolne
saltine)
North Banat
(Severni
Banat)
Deliblato
Sands
(Deliblatska
peščara)
Negotinska
Krajina
Protected
areas name
Type of
protected area
% area
protected
Subotica
Sands
Landscape of
Outstanding
Values; Ludaš
Lake Special
Nature
Reserve;
Seleveljske
Pustare
Special Nature
Reserve
Kamaraš
Nature Park
?
?
100%
10,000
?
?
15
20
2008
B
Good
20,000
ha
?
?
14
20
2008
B
Good
Great Bustard
Pastures
?
70%
35,000
ha
?
?
1
2
20072008
B
Medium
(E)
?
30%
Ca.
30,000
?
?
7
13
20052007
B
Medium
(E)
Deliblato
Sands Special
Nature
Reserve
-
1
90%
37
(Negotinska
Krajina)
Šumadija
(Šumadija)
?
?
4
10
2007
B
Medium
(I)
-
?
10%
?
?
1
3
2005
B
Medium
(E)
?
0%
109,726
44,30 E
39,68 N
Present
?
B
Poor
126,946
28,81 E
37,76 N
4
?
B
Good (O)
Category II:
National Park
?
50%
AkdağDenizli
Allahuekber
dağları
295,968
42,51 E
40,64 N
5
?
19952005
19952005
19952005
Vršački Bred
Lndscape of
Outstanding
Values
National Park
B
Good (O)
Amanos
dağları
372,779
36,34 E
36,85 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Nature
Protection
Site, Wildlife
Protection
Area
Armutlu
Yarımadası
Batı Menteşe
Dağları
80,038
29,05 E
40,54 N
Present
?
B
Poor
142,222
27,76 E
37,49 N
Present
?
19952005
19952005
B
Poor
Beydağları
191,178
30,18 E
36,75 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
No protection
status
Archaeological
and Natural
SİT
Natural SİT
Boz dağlar
236,126
27,98 E
38,34 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Natural SİT
Vršac
Surroundings
(Okolina
Vršca)
Ağrı Dağı
Turkey
ha
Cca
10,000
ha
15,000
ha
No protection
status
National Park
Category II:
National Park
Category Ib:
Wilderness Area,
and Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area
?
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Category III:
Natural
74,624 ha
protected
No
protected
area
30,128 ha
protected
No
protected
area
823 ha
protected
35,615 ha
protected
38
Bozova
164,743
38,69 E
37,50 N
Present
?
Çaldıran
ovası
38,556
44,07 E
39,13 N
Present
?
Çanakkale
boğazı
110,294
26,46 E
40,18 N
Present
?
Çankırı Jipsli
Tepeler
Çoruh vadisi
125,052
33,69 E
40,53 N
Present
?
63,765
41,60 E
40,81 N
10
?
Datça ve
Bozburun
Yarımadaları
247,684
28,10 E
36,82 N
Present
?
Dicle vadisi
135,548
41,43 E
37,68 N
Present
9,224
43,19 E
38,35 N
2
Dönemeç
Deltası
19952005
19952005
No protection
status
No protection
status
Monument
?
B
Poor
B
Poor
19952005
B
Poor
National Park
Category II:
National Park,
19952005
19952005
B
Poor
?
B, M
Good (O)
No protection
status
Wildlife
Protection
Area
19952005
B
Poor
?
19952005
B, M
Poor
?
19952005
B
Poor
?
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area
Category II:
National Park,
National Park,
Specially
Category V:
Protected
Protected
Area, Wildlife
Landscape/Seasc
Protection
ape, Category IV:
Area, Natural
Habitat / Species
and
Management
archaeological
Area and
SİT
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Archaeological
Category III:
SİT
Natural
Monument
No protection
?
status
5,819 ha
protected
No
protected
area
No
protected
area
23686 ha
protected
No
protected
area
12834 ha
protected
200.181 ha
protected
No
protected
39
Ekşisu Sazlığı
2,372
39,62 E
39,71 N
3
5
19952005
B
Good (O)
Archaeological
SİT
Ermenek
vadisi
139,820
32,91 E
36,65 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Wildlife
Protection
Area
Foça
yarımadası
25,411
26,82 E
38,70 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Specially
Protected
Area, Natural
and
Archaeological
SİT
Gediz Deltası
26,165
26,91 E
38,52 N
Present
?
19952005
M
Poor
Ramsar Site,
Natural and
Archaeological
SİT
Geyik dağları
251,601
32,20 E
36,97 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Wildlife
Protection
Area
Göksu
Deltası
21,752
33,99 E
36,33 N
Present
?
19952005
B, M
Poor
Specially
Protected
Area, Natural
SİT, Ramsar
Site
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area
Category V:
Protected
Landscape/Seasc
ape and
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Natural and
Archaeological
SİT, Category VI:
Managed
Resource
Protected Area,
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area
Category VI:
Managed
Resource
Protected Area,
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
area
No
protected
area
No
protected
area
2,656 ha
protected
?
7,614 ha
protected
40
Göreme
tepeleri
Güllük
Deltası
6,871
34,86E
38,65 N
Present
?
24,280
27,59 E
37,19 N
15
20
44,850
42,77 E
38,40 N
4
?
103,032
37,41 E
39,80 N
Present
?
79,589
32,96 E
38,04 N
Present
?
Iğdır ovası
65,173
44,27 E
39,94 N
Present
?
Karakaya
barajı
Kaz Dağları
9,351
38,67 E
38,43 N
Present
?
160,161
26,99 E
39,72 N
Present
?
43,943
32,77 E
40,10 N
Present
?
9,145
36,24 E
37,20 N
10
?
Güney Van
Gölü Kıyıları
ve Alacabük
Dağı
Hafik Zara
Tepeleri
Hodulbaba
dağı
Kazan
tepeleri
Kastabala
Vadisi
19952005
19952005
B
Poor
B, M
Poor
19952005
B
Poor
19952005
19952005
B
Poor
B
Poor
19952005
19952005
19952005
B, M
Poor
B
Poor
B
Poor
19952005
19952005
B
Poor
B
Poor
Area and
Category III:
Natural
Monument
National Park
Category II:
National Park
Specially
Category V:
Protected Area
Protected
Landscape/Seasc
ape
Archaeological
Category III:
SİT
Natural
Monument
No protection
status
Wildlife
Protection
Area
No protection
status
No protection
status
National Park,
Nature
Protection Site
No protection
status
No protection
status
?
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area
?
?
Category II:
National Park
and Category Ib:
Wilderness Area,
?
?
?
6,422 ha
protected
?
?
No
protected
area
51,244 ha
protected
362 ha
protected
No
protected
area
21,178 ha
protected
No
protected
41
Kızılırmak
Deltası
31,327
35,94 E
41,72 N
40
Kirmir Vadisi
37,142
32,00 E
40,16 N
5
Manyas Gölü
21,821
27,96 E
40,18 N
10
Mardin
Dağları
287,162
41,11 E
37,31 N
Marmara
adaları
102,875
27,72E
Hasan Dağı
199,181
34,39 E
50
19952005
B, M
Good (O
19952005
B, M
Poor
19952005
B
Good (O)
Present 19952005
B
Poor
40,51 N
Present
19952005
B
No
protectio
n status
Poor
38,14 N
Present
19952005
B
Poor
12
Ramsar Site,
Wildlife
Protection
Site, Natural
SİT
Category VI:
Managed
Resource
Protected Area,
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area and
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Archaeological
Category III:
Natural
and Natural
SİT
Monument
National Park,
Category VI:
Ramsar Site,
Managed
Natural SİT
Resource
Protected Area,
Category III:
Natural
Monument
?
No protected
area
Natural SİT
Specially
Protected Area
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Category V:
Protected
Landscape/Seasc
ape
area
1,466 ha
protected
5173 ha
protected
?
No
protected
area
5510 ha
protected
42
Mersin
tepeleri
46,185
34,45 E
36,89 N
Present
19952005
B
Poor
No protection
status
?
Munzur
Dağları
585,044
39,26 E
39,38 N
Present
19952005
B
Poor
National Park
& Wildlife
Protection
Area
Nallıhan
Tepeleri
Nemrut Dağı
82,667
31,54 E
40,24 N
4
B
Good (O)
108,331
38,93 E
37,98 N
Present 19952005
B
19952005
Poor
Category II:
National Park &
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area
No protection
status
11929 ha
protected
Olur-oltu
Bozkırları
Sarıyar Barajı
104,907
42,03 E
40,56 N
Present
B
31,754
31,38E
40,02N
Present
19952005
19952005
Saros körfezi
41,735
26,52 E
40,61 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Tanin Tanin
Dağları
183,854
42,93 E
37,48 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
No protection
status
?
Tendürek
Dağı
90,680
43,89 E
39,36 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
No protection
status
?
B
National
Category III:
Park,
Natural
Archaeol
Monument
ogical SİT
Poor
No protection
status
Poor
Wildlife
Protection
Area
?
Category IV:
Habitat / Species
Management
Area
Natural SİT
No
protected
area
35,028 ha
protected
?
5,044 ha
protected
4,420 ha
protected
Category
III:
Natural
Monumen
t
No
protected
area
No
protected
area
43
Notes:
Tohma vadisi
79,704
37,44 E
38,60 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Natural SİT
Uluabat Gölü
24,623
28,60 E
40,17 N
Present
?
19952005
B
Poor
Ramsar Site
Van ovası
102,960
43,38 E
38,71 N
Present
?
B
Poor
Yılanlıkale
tepesi
9642
35,68 E
36,93 N
Present
?
19952005
19952005
B
Poor
No protection
status
No protection
status
Category III:
Natural
Monument
Category VI:
Managed
Resource
Protected Area,
?
?
No
protected
area
No
protected
area
19,900 ha
protected
No
protected
area
No
protected
area
B – Breeding; M – Migration; O – Observed; E – Estimated; I – Inferred; ? – unknown or insufficient information
44
ANNEX 3
National legal status
Country
Legal protection
Austria
Protected
Belarus
Red data Book, 1 category (CR)
Priority for conservation, threatened species (Biodiversity Act, Annex 2), protected over the whole territory
Bulgaria
(Biodiversity Act, Annex 3).
Estonia
Protected species, protection category I
France
Protected species
Hungary
Strictly protected at national level
Latvia
Specially protected species, micro reserve species
Lithuania
Red data Book, 1 (E), individuals are fully protected (Law on Protected Species)
Italy
Protected
Poland
Protected species, the tree with nest cavity protected including a 300m radius area around it
Portugal
Fully protected species (by national and EU law)
Romania
Protected species
Serbia
Natural Rarity (strictly protected species)
Slovakia
Protected species, species of European significance
National level: general animal protection, species status - vulnerable;
Spain
Province level: general protection, species status – species of special interest.
Turkey
Protected against hunting
45
Recent or ongoing conservation measures
Country
Is there a national action plan for the species?
Austria
No
Belarus
No
Bulgaria
No
Estonia
No
France
No
Hungary
Latvia
Yes (Harasztyh et al., 2003)
A national Roller action plan was compiled in 2000 but
has not been officially approved and formally
implemented.
Lithuania
No
Poland
Protected in Poland, Breeding tree with cavity
protected within a radius of 300m.
No
No
No
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Is there a national Roller project / working group?
Yes
One specialist and a group of volunteers
No
?
Yes there is a national Working Group on this species:
www.onem-france.org/rollier
Yes
Roller conservation and survey work is done yearly since 1999
by a small group of LOB members mostly on voluntary basis
and very locally – covering Garkalne forest Roller stronghold
(since 1999) and the two satellite breeding sites at Silakrogs
(2002) and Adazi (2006). In regards to the national action plan,
by these activities LOB has been actually implementing the
most urgent fieldwork and protection tasks.
Not official group, annual observations of the species on
voluntary basis/ annual meeting organised by LOD-BirdLife
Lithuania
?
No
No
Yes. See www.riparia.org.yu
46
Country
Slovakia
Is there a national action plan for the species?
Under preparation
Spain
Andalusia’s action plan – Conservation scheme for
steppe birds of Andalusia.
A draft in Catalonia
No
Turkey
Is there a national Roller project / working group?
Non-official of 4 stable members and occasional volunteers:
working on research and in active and passive conservation:
breeding habitat/hollow characterization, breeding biology
and success; foraging range size and structure; foraging habitat
selection; analysis of landscape structure changes since year
1949; diet and food supply; building of fauna database and
searching for new sites; nest-boxes programme (installation,
maintenance, control, anti-Marten protection), collaboration
with local people and forming of environmental awareness
No
No
47
Ongoing monitoring schemes for the species
Country
Is there a national survey / monitoring programme?
Austria
No official monitoring program.
Belarus
No official survey/ monitoring program.
Bulgaria
Yes locally. Monitoring scheme of breeding success in
artificial nest boxes in territory of Persina Nature Park.
Estonia
France
Hungary
Latvia
Spain
Yes, but not regular.
Under establishment, tested sincein 2007.
Yes, annual breeding survey.
No. Episodic surveys in wider countryside outside
Garkalne forest area have been done since 1999 and all
observations reported by birdwatchers and general
public are collected. However, this hardly constitutes a
national survey or monitoring programme.
Yes, monitoring conducting every 2 years, almost 80%
coverage of the national population.
Only local. We ask friends in other areas of Poland and
this monitoring started in 2008.
No
Survey programme exists but not sufficiently
developed.
No
Official under State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak
Republic. Non-official parallel intelligence contacts
among professional and amateur ornithologists and/or
any nature visitors or workers
No
Turkey
The only ongoing monitoring scheme is Kuşbank, the
Lithuania
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Is there a monitoring programme in protected areas?
Yes, carried out by site management
No official monitoring program.
Partly, monitoring scheme of breeding success in nest boxes in
territory of Persina Nature Park (IBAs BG017, BG074 and
BG083).
?
?
Yes
No. The main breeding area of Garkalne forest which is
protected since 2004 has been surveyed yearly both before and
after designation. The national protected area monitoring
scheme started only in 2008.
Yes, almost 100%
No. Only done partially in Podkarpacie Region by Akcja
Kraska
Episodic surveys in Castro Verde and Vila Fernando
No
Yes
Yes
A recovery project of the Roller is carried out in the
Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park since 2006 through
setting up nest boxes and studing the species’ biology in this
space. In the near future the project will extend to a larger area.
Individual counts are carried out.
48
Worldbirds in Turkey. Other then the regular data entry
to this system, there is no national monitoring
programme, individual counts are carried out in project
sites where the species is present but not in the
framework of a national monitoring programme.
49
ANNEX 4
Knowledge gaps regarding Roller conservation (as defined at the SAP Workshop)
KNOWLEDGE GAPS
Importance Likely cost
Methods
Population-size estimation methods
H
L
Monitoring methods for estimating trends
C
L
Survival, mortality and health status
Health status, parasitism (induced by climate change?)
Poisoning effects on adults and breeding success
Survival rates
Habitat use and selection
Habitat (breeding and foraging) selection and
preference (optimal foraging sites)
Bio-indicator potential
Social behaviour and density dependent breeding
habitat selection, congregation of breeding sites
Impact of threats
Impact of climate change on populations
Monitoring of electrocution on power lines
Secondary poisoning
Impact of public policies (esp CAP) on Roller status
Migration and wintering grounds
Migration pattern, time and routes
Wintering grounds of Western and Eastern subpopulations
Factors (e.g. pesticide use) affecting the survival
during migration and wintering
L
M
C
H
H
H
C
H
M
H
H
H
M
L
M
C
H
H
H
H
M
H
H
H
H
H
50
Population ecology
Genetic structure and fragmentation (gene flow
between subpopulations)
Dispersal mechanism of species (e.g. how to attract
species to empty areas?)
Population Viability Analyses
Identification and assessment of conservation
measures
Design and evaluation of agri-environmental measures
Effects of nest box distribution pattern and design
Status of Roller populations
Population size
Trend
Distribution
Notes: C – Critical; H – High; M – Medium; L - Low
H
H
M
H
C
L
C
M
H
L
H
C
M
H
L
H
51
Overview of the coverage of the species in networks of sites with legal protection status.
Country
Percentage of national population
Percentage of population
included in IBAs
included in SPAs
Austria
100
100
Bulgaria
20
12
Estonia
100
100
France
50-60
30-50
Hungary
65-70
70-75
Latvia
40-80%
30-65%
Lithuania
More than half
More than half
Poland
0%
25 %
Portugal
More than half
More than half
Romania
49-57
41-47
Serbia
More then half
n. a.
Slovakia
10-50% (assumed value)
10-50% (assumed value)
90-100% (verified value)
90-100% (verified value)
Spain
<10%
<10%
Turkey
Unknown
n.a.
Percentage of population included in areas
protected under national law
100
<1%
0
5-10
50-90
30-65%
More than half
10 %
Almost none
More than half
40%
10-50% (assumed value)
90-100% (verified value)
<10%
<10%
52
Umberto Gallo-Orsi