Is it too late for House Martins? (1 Viewer)

[walwyn]

During the week around easter we had our first House Martin visit. They stayed for a week patching up the entrance to the old nest, and another pair made a start on building a nest on the other side of the window. Then both pairs left along with the others in the village.

From time to time we get House Martins checking out the nest. Early morning and late evening there is a flurry of activity and twittering and then nothing. The sky over the village is free of martins.

Last year it was the same, an early influx and departure, then when we had given up, a group of martins appeared in the village in early June and a pair took up residence in the nest raising one brood.

In the previous four years they had arrived and stayed in early May raising two broods.

Now it is mid June and this weekend we have again been visited by lone pairs of Martins checking over the nest and then departing.

What is the latest time that members have known House Martins begin nesting?

 

[Michael Frankis]

I've heard of young fledging in late October and even the beginning of November. Their survival rate is probably negligible, though. But these late broods wouldn't be started until mid September.

Michael

 

[walwyn]

We'll keep our fingers crossed for the next week or so.

 

[pauco]

hi walwyn
we have had only 8 house martins over our way this year it really
is a quite year for them, but like you we live in hope and have
known a late september brood we live in hope.
bert.

 

[walwyn]

Hi bert,

If I go a 5 miles in either direction down the road there are regularly 100+ flying over the reservoirs, so they are in the area just abandoned our village.

 

[chris23565]

I have had House Martins nesting at my house for 7 years, the latest they had young was two years ago, they flew the nest in the middle week of October, although as Micheal has said there chances of survival were probably quite low.

 

[walwyn]

The House Martins have increased in numbers over te village to about 10. One pair is firmly ensconced in the repaired nest, and the male is starting returning with food for the female.

The nest that fell down last year is being repaired by another pair, though they seem to be inexperienced in construction, as we have enough mud for 2 new nests on the ground. Their success rate in getting the mud to stick is improving though, and tonight it is 75% complete.

I knew I missed them flying over our heads and having a small flock whizzing past the windows of an evening, but its only now that they are back that I realise just how anxious I was for their return.

 

[walwyn]

The first batch (3) have now fledged. There were 4 but one fell out a week ago. Nevertheless the sky above the garden has had quite a few House Martins the last couple of days. I counted 20 yesterday evening.

The other nest are probably a week away from fledging and there looks to be at least 3 chicks, sticking their heads and half their bodies out.

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Walwyn,

Obviously too late for that one, but any more that fall out half-grown or more, the parents will soon start feeding them again if you can rig up some sort of artificial nest even just half-way up to the height of the nest it fell from (e.g. on a windowsill below or near the nest). If necessary, one of the adults will even brood it. There was a letter in British Birds or somewhere on exactly that subject a while ago.

Michael

 

[Nina P]

Hi Walwyn, The housemartins here have left the nest and for a few days now and I thought there was going to be no more but now I'm wondering if they are considering another brood, so if this weekend is to be good as the weathermen are predicting, maybe there will be another one starting if not already on the way, Yesterday saw upwards of thirty swallows and housemartins wire sitting in the rain, until "madam" kestrel appeared, and all the hirundines took off and attacked her, as she is the devil who has had past broods and adults, but this year they seem to be very aware of her and her parchant for housemartin a la wing, and the swallows are the first to sound the alarm, so they may decide not to breed again this year!! Nina.

 

[walwyn]

Thanks, I'll remember that. The bird was dead when we found it in the afternoon, and the first that has been lost like this in the 6 years we have been here.

This last brood seemed to poke themselves out of the nest further than any others we have had. Almost as if they were making up their minds to leave but way too early.

Nina - I expect at least one pair to start another brood, they have each year we have been here, and although late starting this year as, it was late September last year before all our martins had left the nest.

How long a rest do they take before starting again?

 

[Nina P]

The parent birds this year seem to be so fat they have to wriggle to get out of the nest they took over after the last birds in 2001 were wiped out. I had to laugh at the antics of this pair as they really do have to fight to get out of the nest hole, and it really is a serious wriggle, I did tell them they will have to do what I've been told to do, Lose some fat around the middle. Still looks funny to me, especially when they are fitter than me!! Ha ha! Nina.

 

[walwyn]

Well the cycle seems to have started again. We had our first House Martin visit about 10 days ago, just before I had to fly out to the Czech Republic. Today there has been a lot of activity. Squabbling between 4 pairs over two nests, but two pairs seem well ensconced in the nests and the males are returning with food.