The hobby is Britain's most aerial falcon, specialising in catching dragonflies and hirundines in flight. Its welfare depends on insect-rich habitats near open water and heathland for successful breeding.
Hobby welfare during breeding depends on adequate insect prey availability within foraging range of the nest. Poor dragonfly years caused by cold, wet summers reduce prey abundance and force adults to invest more energy in longer foraging bouts to provision chicks. Chicks that receive insufficient food grow slowly and are vulnerable to starvation if prey is consistently scarce. The hobby's specialisation as an aerial hunter means it cannot switch easily to ground-based prey when aerial insects are sparse. The welfare of this species is therefore closely tied to the health of wetland and heathland insect communities that climate change and land use are affecting.