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Since departing from South Africa on March 30, 2024, Hera is finally on her return journey, currently resting again in Somalia. Her return has sparked a mix of excitement and relief within our Regional Conservation Programme. We’re thrilled by the thought of welcoming back our little hero back in just a few weeks, and relieved that, despite some transmission issues caused by feathers blocking her solar panel, her tracker is still working! Hera’s stopover in Somalia reinforces the country’s significance as a crucial refuelling point for European Rollers during both their autumn and spring migration. While limited data is coming through right now, her presence in Somalia again this season highlights the importance of this site for the species’ survival.
It’s still incredible to think that Hera, a 160g bird, travelled over 10,000 km through important stopovers in Somalia and India to reach Uzbekistan, where she spent nearly two months (see Map 1). From there, she continued on to Rajasthan, India—another important stopover known to host over 300,000 European Rollers during migration. Can you imagine such a sight? Hera then moved further south in India before crossing the ocean to Africa—a longer journey than her spring migration! It’s possible her route mimics that of Amur Falcons, who harness southwest winds to carry them across the Indian Ocean. We hope to uncover more about this route as we work to fix her tracker’s solar panel for future journeys.
Why Hera’s Journey Matters
Hera’s journey isn’t just a remarkable feat of endurance; it’s a window into the health of ecosystems that support migratory birds across continents. Each leg of her migration highlights critical habitats that European Rollers depend on, helping us pinpoint which areas need protection most.
Our latest monitoring data has raised serious concerns. Observations from the 2023–2024 season reveal a steep decline in European Roller sightings in South Africa, with counts dropping to just one-tenth of previous years. Additionally, data from the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2) suggests that South Africa’s overwintering population is between 9,000 and 45,780 individuals, yet 2024 recorded the lowest reporting rate for European Rollers since monitoring began. These findings highlight the urgent need for continued monitoring, citizen science contributions, and the protection of key overwintering habitats.
Conserving a species like the European Roller requires protecting the entire migration route—from breeding grounds to stopover sites to wintering habitats. With ongoing research and increased awareness, we can help ensure that future generations of rollers have safe passages across continents, giving these remarkable birds a fighting chance for survival.
How You Can Get Involved
You can play a vital role in ensuring a brighter future for migratory birds like Hera. Here’s how:
- Donate to Support Tracking and Research: Your support funds satellite tags, monitoring technology, and essential data analysis that make our research possible. Every contribution allows us to track more birds, deepen our understanding of migratory routes, and identify critical habitats for protection.
- Join the Citizen Science Community: By logging sightings of European Rollers and other migratory species through platforms like the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2), you contribute valuable data that enhances our understanding of migration patterns and population trends.
- Spread the Word: Follow Hera’s journey on social media, share updates, and raise awareness about the challenges facing migratory birds. The more people understand these challenges, the stronger our collective voice becomes in advocating for essential conservation measures.
Together, we can protect the skies for future generations of European Rollers. Thank you for being part of Hera’s story—and for helping to ensure that her journey, and the journeys of countless migratory birds, continue for years to come.
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