Wild Animals

Hobby Falcon: Summer Visitor Welfare

The hobby is a small, swift-winged falcon that visits the UK each summer to breed, facing welfare challenges during migration and from agricultural intensification that reduces its dragonfly prey.

Key Facts

Hobbies winter in sub-Saharan Africa and travel over 8,000 km to breed in Europe
They can catch large dragonflies and swallows in mid-air, demonstrating extraordinary agility
UK breeding population is around 2,800-3,000 pairs, concentrated in southern England
Hobbies nest in old crow nests, making them reliant on corvid populations for suitable sites
Dragonfly abundance, their primary summer prey, has declined with wetland loss

Welfare Considerations

Hobbies face welfare challenges across their migratory range. In the UK, habitat loss and reduced prey availability affect breeding success. During migration through southern Europe and Africa, illegal shooting and trapping pose serious mortality risks. Climate change may affect the timing of dragonfly emergence and hobby arrival, creating phenological mismatches that reduce food availability during critical chick-rearing periods.

What You Can Do

Support wetland conservation projects that maintain dragonfly populations
Back international campaigns against illegal raptor persecution on migration routes
Avoid disturbing known hobby nest sites during the breeding season (May to August)
Record hobby sightings on BirdTrack or local bird recording schemes to support population monitoring