House Martin Conservation and Welfare

House martins, once a common UK summer visitor, are declining rapidly and face welfare threats across their entire range.

Key Facts

UK house martin populations have declined by 37% since 1970
They migrate annually between UK breeding sites and Sub-Saharan Africa wintering grounds
Traditional mud-nest building sites are lost as modern buildings lack suitable ledges
Aerial insect availability — their entire food source — has declined by 75% since the 1970s
Artificial nest cups can successfully replace natural mud nests, stabilising some breeding populations

Welfare Considerations

House martin decline reflects welfare threats across the entire life cycle: food scarcity from invertebrate decline in UK breeding areas, loss of nesting sites from modern building design, and migration challenges including storms, desiccation of African wetlands, and crossing the Sahara. Individual birds experience energy stress from food scarcity and nest competition. The welfare response requires action at multiple scales: insect habitat improvement in UK gardens and farms, artificial nest provision, and transnational conservation of African wintering areas.

What You Can Do

Install artificial house martin nest cups on south-facing building walls
Create invertebrate-rich habitats in gardens to support aerial insect prey
Report house martin nesting activity to the BTO Nest Box Survey
Oppose planning permissions that remove occupied house martin nesting sites
Advocate for building design regulations that incorporate artificial nest ledges for house martins