April is a challenging month for European rollers, as this is when they embark on their migration journey covering thousands of kilometres. Their long journey, with Europe as the final destination, is completed in two stages. At the beginning of the month, they leave the territories of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa where they spent winter, heading towards East Africa. Along the way, they prefer stopover sites such as Kenya’s Tsavo West National Park, where they find suitable habitats. Here, they rest and may stay until the end of the month to regain their strength for the upcoming challenges.

After resting, they face the dangerous crossing of the Arabian Peninsula, where, unfortunately, many birds fall victim to hunting. From there, they continue their journey through Turkey and Bulgaria, eventually reaching their breeding grounds in our country.

Rollers fitted with transmitters provide valuable information about their migration routes. Eleven, one of the tagged rollers, has been tracked over several years, and you can learn more about its story here.

While some individuals are still completing their long journey, some rollers have already returned to their breeding sites. One such bird was captured on camera by our colleague, Attila Nagy, as it surveyed the area near a newly installed nest box.

The European roller is the Endangered Species of the Year 2025. With your help, we can install nest boxes that provide a safe breeding site for these birds and their chicks. Every nest counts! Support this species with a donation.