In November, a joint team of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and Electricity Distribution Grid West AD (EDG West AD) successfully installed 50 artificial nest boxes (houses) for the nesting of the European Roller.

The European Roller is a protected species that nests in holes in earth slopes, rock niches, stone walls, tree hollows, and in cavities of concrete electricity poles. The population of this blue-colored bird began to suffer a drastic decline in the 1950s. The use of pesticides in agriculture was the main cause.

Photo: Svilen Cheshmedzhiev

The joint team of BSPB and EDG west AD placed a total of 50 bluebird houses on electric concrete poles located in suitable habitats in the protected areas "Svishtov-Belen Lowland", "Belenski Islands Complex", "Obnova", "Devetashko Plateau" and "Studenets". These are some of the most important breeding areas for this attractive species in Bulgaria. By the end of the year, 27 more artificial nest boxes for the Red-footed Falcon will be installed, bringing the total number of nest boxes in Bulgaria to 50.