Might be a poorly populated thread this year. Time will tell.
Currently, two artificial swift boxes. Previously occupied one, I blocked access until 3 days ago to prevent sparrow access. The other swift box, that had been entered by swifts well into last season, presumably for future use, has an active sparrow nest in. Harder to access to block so I decided not to on H&S grounds. The young sparrows are probably about 10 days from fledging. Not ideal but may mean swifts can, if they return, dip in and take their chance. Still a few days til the 'usual return' day. 7th May.
Martins returned on 6th April. Previous two years was 7th April according to my old doc. The first pair entered the 'patio nest'. Within a day or two, that ceased. No clear reason why. The only 3 nests the now 6-7 martins have shown a repeated interest in are the partially collapsed natural nest....which ends up with sparrows attacking them, and two artificial nests, a concrete one (with smaller capacity and access) and the next along more typical artificial nest cup. They are centrally located on the house. I have never seen a sparrow enter the concrete one, so that's a potential positive. However, I don't think it is capable of fledging more than 2 chicks per brood. They'd need to be incredibly considerate and take their turns at the entrance for more to survive.
Sparrow numbers appear a bit down on previous years. Most have nests in trees here this year, though two nests are under the eaves here. One at side of house and other in a swift box. Neighbour also has an active nest under the eaves nearest us.
As an aside, as I can't be bothered to open another thread, it appears starlings have gone extinct in the village.....two regular nest sites are empty and not seen or heard a starling for over a month here.......
Fingers crossed for a better year, Robbo.... our sparrows and starling are also significantly lower in number so far this summer, although a pair of sparrows appear to be nesting in next doors hedging. We've not had sparrow vs martin conflict that I'm aware of.
interesting that the sparrows don't appear interested in the artificial concrete nest cups; is because they have more limited capacity and more difficult entry ? I do hope you have some success with the remaining HM nests and will follow the progress with interest. Perhaps "awareness" publicity could go out from the big organisations like BTO and RSPB via a more direct method of local news programs or posters with a drive to "help house martins" as many people I have spoken to have no idea that they fly such long distances from sub-saharan Africa to breed in UK and other areas and need to be encouraged with help from us; some people have said when I mention how nice it is to see these birds back for spring/summer say that "they are "messy" birds which create poop on their patios below the nesting area without realising the full facts about how challenging it is for these birds to raise chicks to fledging stage. I am currently watching the news about encouraging people to join "No Mow May" to help wildlife for both birds and insects by leaving areas of grass longer and let weeds/wild flowers grow so why not highlight the plight of house martins more widely as I am sure many more folk would accept a bit of mess for a few weeks/months on their patios. Even at a rental house we had for a year on a farm estate ..... I had to explain to the Landlord not to block the eaves off when other renters on the farm complained about stepping into the poo as they left their front doors, I managed to convince him not to do this as it would not only be breaking the wildlife law whilst the martins were currently nesting (without wearing my policeman's hat - better to use honey rather than vinegar to get people to listen and gain a result ! ). but highlighted the positive aspects of having these birds who will take insects from crops, etc., that could be damaged. He had no idea these birds flew so very far to nest in UK and I managed to win him over with a simple chat about these beautiful little birds. I had limited knowledge to be honest but enough to encourage him to stop what he was about to do. I loved the sound of them flying in and out above the door of our little coach house and it doesn't take much effort to step over the poop and just wash it away if it got overly dirty. The nests I saw (3 at least in the eves of our rental) all had successful outcomes although they did have to contend with house sparrows at times which would perch on the entrances; not sure how the martins managed to continue but luckily in this instance they did as sparrow activity was probably not as intense as you have seen. A lot of people are just not aware about different species of birds and their individual vulnerability but even if I can make a tiny difference in helping one person understand then it is worth a quick chat !!! Even at our apartment building I have gathered a few residents who now take a keen interest in birds who have been amazed when I explain where some of our Warblers fly in from and what birds we have around the parkland !!! Only trouble is when the questions get too complex I have to check in with my local ornithologist for an answer ... or on here !!
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Regards, Hazel
Thanks for the replies. 3 swifts low over the house a couple of times today……slightly early, and timed for the coldest day in weeks!
Martins appear to be using the concrete nest and the adjacent one still……
Hazy, the concrete nest has smaller entrance.
really hope that the Swift box sees swiftlets this year. I keep listening out for the House Martins - I miss them :(
Cin J
Thanks. A swift definitely, after some uncertainty, entered one of the boxes. The usual one that doesn't have an active sparrow nest in currently. I think at least one entered Wednesday, but think I heard it rather than saw it. There are at least 4 swifts about now, so hopefully two are 'ours'.
Re martins, I think, based on behaviour, the concrete nest and one nearest it have eggs. The other martin nests, incl the half built one, continue to be sporadically visited.....and that invariably triggers a house sparrow or two. As mentioned on another thread, I've therefore given the 'curtain' another go, and will try and cover the half built one and the nearest one to that, from the front approach.
I have, with help due to height, put up a 5ft curtain. It covers one artificial nest and the half built mud nest. I still fear a sparrow can get up from the side, especially to the half built nest……time will tell. Early visits to the house suggest martins aren’t sure…..
separately, patio nest had two adults in for a while when the curtain went up. Seems that is now 3 nests selected and in progress, with the hopefully protected one drawing interest at least until today.
swifts…….onehas been screaming quietly from the box. Seen two overhead a couple of times, but all seems quite low key so far. Not sure yet if the pair returned.
7 martin nests this year. Any following last year (and prev!) will know there was also a nest cup on the side of the house (around the corner from the outside swift box). Unfortunately, magpies used the garage as a launch pad to attack and catch adult martins, so last year, I took the nest down that had four chicks inside as I knew both adults were lost. (one was magpie prey and the other disappeared the day of me seeing a sparrowhawk carrying something away).
Nest 1 = 'Patio nest' - most successful over the years we've lived here. Woodpecker predation the first year and hole still visible but plugged with mud in subsequent years by nesting birds. One of a pair visible in the photo, and they appear to have settled in. Yet to lay IMO.
Nest 2 = 'Mud nest' - only one left on the house after collapses. (mostly without martin occupants.....some probably with a sparrow causing it). Plagued by a sparrow or two in recent weeks. See below.
Nest 3 = 'Alarm nest' - A pair clearly had decided to settle in, but were being harrassed and attacked by at least one sparrow, that often based itself inside the mud nest to cover that section. Curtain constructed and put up 110525. After initial reluctance, martins have now accepted the new modification and appear ok going in and out.
Nest 4 = 'Concrete nest' - I've never seen a sparrow enter it. However, I've never knowingly seen more than 2 martins fledge from it. Entrance is restricted and internal capacity is probably much lower than the other nest cups. I think incubation has commenced, but saw two adults leave this morning.
Nest 5 = 'Sparrow nest" - the nest cup sparrows have 'won' over the years and the one most likely for them to then go on to actually breed in.....twice I think in the years we've been here. I had thought incubation had started in this one, and it appeared the first for a pair of martins to settle on this year. However, this morning, several batches of feathers have dropped out of it, and as the photo shows, more are still to drop out. Not sure if that is likely if there are eggs. Adult has been in and out and now obvious stress shown.
Nest 6 and 7 = 'Downpipe nests 1&2" - lots of harrassment from nesting sparrows next door so limited interest in those until recent days. More martins in the area now, and the sparrow nest has gone quiet. Definitely young in the until 3 days ago, but not seen a female enter it since. Male is doing very little to suggest any surviving young, or any sudden fledging. No young sparrows yet seen in the garden, and unlike most other species, they tend to stick around for weeks/months after fledging.
Nest 8 = 'Swift 2' in same photo as 'Downpipe nests', is/was an active house sparrow nest. Has been used by them in previous years. Last year swifts entered it late in the breeding season. Had hoped they'd come back and use it this year. No evidence yet though.
Nest 9 = 'Swift 1' now has a pair of swifts in. Saw both last night. Saw one leave early this morning.