Rationale
(Changed due to Genuine status change (since first assessment))
The global population of European Roller Coracias garrulus has declined at a rate approaching 30% which would satisfy the population trend criteria of A2, A3 and A4 (a suspected and predicted population size reduction of 30% over three generations where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased or may not be understood or may not be reversible, based on (b) an index of abundance appropriate to the taxon; (c) a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat; (d) actual or potential levels of exploitation). The species is a non-breeding visitor to the region in the austral summer. Based upon its global status, the European Roller is assessed as regionally Near Threatened.
Distribution
The European Roller is a non-breeding migrant ranging from Morocco to south-western and central Europe, Asia Minor and eastwards to Siberia. The entire non-breeding range is within Africa (Herremans 2005). Birds arrive in the austral spring between October/November and depart again in March/April (Kovács et al. 2008). Within the region, the species is concentrated in the upper-middle Limpopo River drainage, the Lowveld region of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and coastal KwaZulu-Natal (Herremans 1997). It is an irregular visitor to Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces (Rowan 1983). The EoO within the region has remained largely unchanged between the two atlasing periods (c. 1 500 000 km2) although the AoO has declined by 31% from 350 820 to 242 120 km2. The species is well represented in the existing regional IBA network.
Population
The European breeding population is currently estimated at 53 000-110 000 breeding pairs. No regional population estimate is available.
Population trend
The global population is in decline (BirdLife International 2014) with downward trends being reported in northern Europe. In the past century, the species has gone extinct in Germany, Denmark, Sweden (Snow et al. 1998, Snow and Perrins 1998), and Finland (Avilés et al. 1999). Global declines are suspected to be approaching the 30% decline mark over a three generation period. Confidence in this global trend estimate is medium.
Threats
The majority of threats faced by the European Roller are within its home range states on its Palearctic breeding grounds, as well as on passage during migration. The loss of suitable breeding habitat due to changing agricultural practices is the primary threat in Europe (Kovács et al. 2008). Other threats on the breeding grounds include the permanent conversion of grassland for other land-use types, land abandonment, reduced management of meadows and pastures, destruction of micro-habitats (tracks, hedges, beetle banks, uncultivated land) for large insects and other prey species and loss of large trees that provide nesting opportunities (Kovács et al. 2008). No major threats are known within the region, although prolonged droughts may alter movement patterns and render large areas unsuitable (Herremans 2005)
Conservation
Underway
Identified targets for restoring the favourable conservation status of the species in Europe include: 1) maintaining a population greater than 10 000 breeding pairs; 2) restoring the area of the distribution to 1990-levels; and 3) in the short term, halting the decline of the species, and in the long term maintaining a stable population trend for at least three generations (Kovacs et al. 2008). The European Roller is listed under the EU Birds Directive Annex 1, the Bern Convention Appendix II and the Bonn Convention Appendix II.
Proposed
The majority of threats to European Roller occur on its breeding grounds in Europe. No species-specific conservation measures are currently underway within the region, or proposed for the future, other than ongoing monitoring of populations visiting the region in the austral summer. The species' occurrence in savannah and woodland biomes ensure that it relatively well-protected in South Africa's extensive network of state-owned and private game farms including Kruger National Park.
Research
A number of national monitoring schemes are underway within its range states in Europe. A similar monitoring programme aimed at increasing knowledge on the status, distribution and survival of the migratory population visiting South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland should be initiated within the region.
