The merlin, Britain's smallest falcon, depends on healthy upland heathland and moorland habitats that are under pressure from multiple threats.
Merlin welfare is closely tied to the health of upland heathland ecosystems. As small falcon predators of meadow pipits and other small birds, merlins require habitats that support abundant prey populations — which themselves depend on diverse, healthy moorland plant communities. Illegal persecution, where it occurs, causes acute welfare harm to individuals and undermines the gradual recovery of merlin populations. Sensitive management of upland heathlands that maintains structural diversity for both prey and nesting requirements is the most important conservation welfare action. Monitoring of merlin breeding success provides early warning of habitat or persecution problems.