Sand martins nest in colonies in sandy riverbanks and sand quarries and face welfare challenges from nest site availability, prey scarcity, and disturbance.
Sand martin nesting colonies at limited suitable sites face intense competition for burrows. Established colonies on natural riverbanks face erosion and vegetation encroachment that reduces available sites. Quarry-based colonies face management uncertainty as extraction patterns change. Individual birds that cannot secure nest burrows cannot breed, representing a welfare harm of reproductive frustration in addition to the lost conservation contribution.