Hobby Welfare and Aerial Hunting in Open Country

The hobby is an elegant summer migrant falcon that has increased in the UK, with its welfare tied to prey availability and open-country hunting habitats.

Key Facts

The hobby population has increased dramatically in the UK, spreading northwards since the 1970s
They feed predominantly on large insects and small birds, often catching swifts and swallows in flight
Dragonflies over wetlands are a key prey item
They are late migrants, often not arriving until mid-May to coincide with abundance of large insects
Hobbies nest in old crow nests in trees at woodland edges

Welfare Considerations

Hobby welfare is linked to insect prey abundance during the breeding season. Declines in large aerial insects — including dragonflies and large moths — reduce foraging efficiency and chick provisioning rates. The expansion of the UK hobby population reflects both breeding success and insect availability in warmer southern counties. Wetland conservation maintaining dragonfly populations directly benefits foraging hobbies. Nesting success depends on retaining old corvid nests in mature trees at woodland edges.

What You Can Do

Support wetland restoration that maintains dragonfly populations as a hobby prey resource
Avoid removal of old crow nests from trees at woodland edges during winter
Contribute hobby sightings to BTO BirdTrack to track range expansion
Reduce pesticide use to maintain aerial insect abundance for hobby foraging