Wildlife

Wild Hobby Falcon: Summer Welfare and Prey Availability

Hobby falcon welfare during UK breeding season depends on aerial insect and swallow prey abundance.

Key Facts

Hobbies are summer migrants from Africa that breed in England and Wales
They specialise in aerial prey including swallows, swifts, and large insects
UK hobby population has expanded northward with climate warming
Hobby welfare depends on insect abundance that has declined with agricultural intensification

Welfare Considerations

Hobby welfare depends on the abundance of aerial prey that in turn depends on insect population health. Insect declines from agricultural intensification reduce the food available for hobbies provisioning chicks. Farmland insect restoration through agri-environment schemes directly benefits both hobby welfare and their insect prey.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes restoring farmland insect populations
Report hobby breeding evidence to county recording groups to support range monitoring
Advocate for insect-friendly farming practices as a predator welfare as well as insect welfare priority