The wild-roll was named by SPEA in order to draw their attention to the decline of the species in our territory.
Maybe you already saw this bird, the Streptopelia turtur (scientific name), or at least heard it singing differently. It's a wild-roll which although is a common species in Portuguese territory, with a higher incidence in Tras-os-Montes in the north, has been disappearing in an alarming way, which led to the Portuguese association study of Birds (SPEA) to designate it as a bird of the year. This smallest member of the family of pigeons has regressed in terms of number, since, according to the census of common birds between the years 2004 to 2010 its population decreased by 31%. A decline which however is not as pronounced as in the rest of Europe that reaches a 70% reduction.
SPEA, a nongovernmental organization with this alert, wishes to boost a temporary moratorium to prevent the hunting of this specimen in our territory so that they can study the causes of their gradual disappearance. A small legal change that could contribute to the increase of its population during the period of reproduction, between August and October, which is precisely when this bird is much appreciated by the Portuguese, during the hunt season. The association estimates that are slaughtered 2 million to 3 million of these birds each year, before migrating to North Africa where they spend the winter. The reasons for the decline of their numbers are not yet known to scientists, it is estimated that this phenomenon is due to degradation of their environment, particularly to the prolonged drought that has occurred in Africa, as well as the increase of the desert, the result of climate change. The intensification of agriculture is another of the reasons, presented by the various organizations involved in this process, for the reduction of these small birds.
http://www.spea.pt/pt/participar/campanhas/ave-do-ano-2012-rola-brava/
