Kestrel populations have declined by over 60% in the UK since the 1970s, primarily driven by declines in field voles caused by intensive grassland management that removes their prey base.
Kestrel welfare is primarily determined by field vole availability. Breeding pairs that cannot find sufficient voles to feed chicks face repeated nest failure - a physiologically costly and stressful outcome. Individual chicks that receive insufficient food starve progressively over days. The fundamental driver of this welfare harm is agricultural grassland management that eliminates rough, tussocky habitat. Conservation management through agri-environment schemes that create and maintain rough grassland margins provides vole habitat and directly improves kestrel breeding welfare outcomes. Nest box provision helps where birds exist but cannot find suitable nest sites.