Portugal's roller population depends on artificial nests to survive

Researcher Teresa Catry discusses 20 years of studies on the roller, one of Portugal's most threatened birds, whose population has grown 26% since 2009 but is now almost entirely confined to Castro Verde, with its range shrinking 67%. The recovery stems largely from artificial nest boxes provided through conservation projects, creating what Catry calls a "conservation trap": the species depends on human intervention to survive. Threats include agricultural intensification, loss of nesting sites, heatwaves affecting wooden nest boxes, and uncertain conditions in African wintering grounds. Long-term funding for monitoring and conservation remains unsecured.