Marsh harriers recovered from near-extinction in the UK through wetland restoration, and maintaining their welfare depends on continued reed bed habitat management.
Marsh harriers face welfare threats from habitat loss, persecution, and the challenges of managing multiple nest sites. Females dependent on a single male provider face nutritional stress if prey availability falls during chick-rearing. Illegal persecution on game estates causes acute harm. Reed bed degradation that reduces nest site availability forces competition between pairs, increasing stress and nest failure rates.