Rollers in good health in the Vallée des Baux
It may well be that Rollers are increasingly enjoying their summer quarters in the Vallée des Baux… and A Rocha has a lot to do with it! The proof is in the findings of our latest 2021 report (available here). You will discover that the roller population has increased in the Vallée des Baux over the last 10 years, largely thanks to our nest boxes: good news! (see graph below).
Evolution of the number of pairs of European rollers nesting in the Vallée des Baux
A Rocha has been working for the European Roller for over twenty years through its nature conservation work, with the aim of helping to save it in France. The Roller is an endangered species with declining numbers throughout its range, particularly in Europe where it has recently disappeared from several countries and where some relict populations are on the verge of extinction.
Practically, what can be done for the roller? The essential action plan to halt its decline involves
- estimating the size and trends of the populations
- implementing concrete actions for the restoration and conservation of their habitat
- developing an awareness programme for landowners and farmers
However, it should be noted that the restoration of breeding habitats can take time. So in reality, we are working on these three aspects in parallel, in a number of ways:
- Installing and maintaining several hundred nest boxes
- Locating breeding pairs and studying their reproduction
- Promoting agroecology, hedgerow conservation, and the restoration of the roller’s habitat in the Vallée des Baux
- Planting ‘cavity trees’ that will allow the rollers to reproduce in the future
- By sharing our results through scientific publications
One of our nest boxes
An inhabited natural cavity
This monitoring, and a large part of our work to help the European roller, do not benefit from any subsidy and are only possible thanks to donations. You too can contribute to these efforts and take concrete action to save this magnificent bird! All the details here.
THANK YOU for your support!