Wildlife Welfare

Wild Kestrel Recovery and Urban Nesting

Kestrel populations declined significantly through the late 20th century but are showing signs of partial recovery in some areas. Urban nest boxes and reduced pesticide use are supporting population stabilisation.

Key Facts

UK kestrel populations declined by 36% between 1995 and 2016
Kestrels are one of the few raptors comfortable nesting on buildings and motorway bridges
Rodenticide poisoning through secondary exposure remains a threat to kestrel welfare
Kestrels hover to locate small mammals in grassland using ultraviolet detection of vole urine trails
Nest box programmes have successfully increased breeding densities in some areas

Welfare Considerations

Individual kestrels in areas with high rodenticide use face secondary poisoning risk through consumption of contaminated rodents. Kestrels in areas with insufficient rough grassland prey availability struggle to provision chicks successfully. Maintaining prey-rich habitats and reducing rodenticide use in key kestrel areas directly improves individual welfare and breeding success.

What You Can Do

Install kestrel nest boxes on suitable buildings in rural areas
Support campaigns to reduce second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide use
Advocate for motorway verge management that maintains rough grassland for kestrels