The hobby is a fast-flying summer falcon that feeds almost exclusively on large flying insects and dragonflies, making it highly sensitive to insect abundance changes driven by pesticide use and habitat loss.
Hobby welfare depends on abundant large flying insects including dragonflies, emperor moths, and chafer beetles. Pesticide use reducing insect abundance directly affects hobby food supply during breeding. Climate change and habitat loss affecting wetland dragonfly populations removes a key prey source. Individual hobbies feeding young chicks face welfare compromise when insects are scarce.