Sand martins nest in colonies in sandy riverbanks and quarry faces, with welfare threatened by bank erosion, recreational disturbance, and the loss of natural sandy substrate from managed riverbanks.
Sand martin colonies in riverbanks face welfare threats from physical disturbance and habitat loss. Bank collapse during flood events destroys entire colony sections, causing egg and chick loss. Recreational disturbance from canoeing, swimming, and fishing near active colonies causes adults to flee repeatedly, leaving eggs and chicks exposed to temperature extremes. River management works that face or stabilise banks destroy natural sandy substrate needed for burrow excavation. Artificial nest banks in gravel quarries provide supplementary welfare-positive nesting habitat away from recreational pressure.