The marsh harrier has made a remarkable comeback in Britain from near extinction. This spectacular raptor's welfare depends on extensive reedbed habitats and diverse wetland prey.
Marsh harrier welfare is tied to the quality and extent of reedbed habitat, which also supports bitterns, water rails, and bearded tits. The recovery from near extinction demonstrates what targeted habitat creation and legal protection can achieve. Individual welfare depends on prey availability and territory quality. Males that fail to provision multiple mates adequately may see chick starvation. Persecution, while reduced, still occurs and illegal shooting and poisoning are ongoing welfare threats in some areas.