Wildlife

Wild Hobby Welfare and Breeding

Hobbies are summer migrant falcons that breed in southern England, with welfare shaped by dragonfly and aerial prey availability.

Key Facts

Hobbies arrive in late April-May from sub-Saharan African wintering grounds
They specialise in catching large dragonflies and small birds in aerial pursuit
Breeding density correlates with dragonfly abundance near nest sites
Nests are usually in old crow or magpie nests in tall trees at forest edges
Climate change is enabling range expansion northward into northern England

Welfare Considerations

Hobbies breeding near wetlands with abundant dragonflies have better welfare outcomes than those in areas with depleted prey. Wetland restoration that increases dragonfly populations directly benefits hobby breeding welfare. Their long migration makes them vulnerable throughout their annual cycle to weather extremes and habitat loss on both wintering and breeding grounds.

What You Can Do

Support wetland creation and restoration increasing dragonfly populations for hobbies
Report hobby sightings to contribute to range expansion monitoring
Donate to migratory bird conservation organisations