Hobbies are elegant migratory falcons that arrive in the UK each summer to breed, feeding almost entirely on dragonflies and swallows caught in flight.
Hobby welfare at breeding sites depends on access to open hunting areas with abundant aerial prey. Loss of wetlands reduces dragonfly populations that form a critical food supply. Disturbance at nests by birdwatchers and photographers causes repeated flushing, increasing energy expenditure and risk of nest failure. Hot summers with good dragonfly populations support successful breeding. Conservation of wetland habitats near woodland nesting areas directly supports hobby welfare and breeding success.