MOSE Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Within the last three months, the wife and I have watched these two housemartins build a nest in the eves of our house. At first it was a bit of a pain. We got some advice and were bascially told we weren't allowed to interfere with it So....over the coming weeks we got used to it, watching them build the nest and then only 3 weeks ago did we see the shells of the first two eggs, then a few days later 3 more. It was a joy sitting on our decking late at night listening to the family of housemartins chirping away. The only hassle we have had to deal with is the copious amounts of bird shyte on the decking, but nothing that Coke cant shift! So....we go away for the weekend to Santa Pod and Castle Donny, returned home about midnight on Sunday, decided to go out and have a bottle of wine on the decking. We got out there to a mass of mess, unbelievable mess. Basically, the bottom of the nest has given way, and all of its contents laid scattered around the decking some 30 odd feet below. Three of the chicks were dead, barely featherd and so small , one of them was still moving. Its eyes not yet open and evidently hungry and distressed. I managed to get this one in doors, put it in a small box, with the nesting that lay on the decking and hoped for the best. I could not find the other one. I called the RSPCA for some advice, they were very helpful and said I could do one of two things. Take the chick to the vet in the morning or take it to BirdWorld (Farnham). Unfortunately the young housemartin died during the night. Then last night as me and the missus were sitting outside having our scran, I noticed the other bird hidden away between the decking and the fencing. So did exactly the same thing and put it safe in the box, with some water and some dead crane flies. This morning it was still alive, it was chirping and spreading its wings and bathing in the lid of water I had placed in the box. Took it over to BirdWorld in Farnham who refused take it off my hands as it was a wild bird that might be carrying a disease. I thought BirdWorld specialised in exotic and wild birds???? They were extremely unhelpful and this pissed me off a great deal. So, I went off to work, with the young housemartin in the box and stuck it on my desk while I made some calls. I called the RSPB (Royal Society for Protection of Birds) and they were really helpful in locating a family that operated an "animal hosptial" from home about 5 miles from where I worked. So off I go in search of this place (Elstead, Surrey) and deliverd the young housemartin safe and sound. Tonight, both adult housemartins are busy rebuilding the bottom of the nest. But....it is sad to watch them searching about the garden for their young. Made me feel really sad. Out of the five chicks, only one would have survived. Has anyone else on TSN had any experience of birds nesting in their homes? Any housemartins? I'm trying to figure out whether or not the nest collapsed or whether it was attacked by the larger House Thrush that seems to prey on smaller birds and in particular its unhatched eggs and newly hatched chicks?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kite Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Mose, you ol' softy. What a thoughtful person you are. Could it have been magpie's ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I admit I am one of those sensative types....and this affected me a great deal, particularly seeing a young one in distress. Have never seen a Thatcherite in this neck of the woods to be honest George, but am told that there are a lot of House Thrushes, which are quite bigger and more territorial. Shame really, it was great watching it all from day one, til we arrived home on Sunday and saw all the mess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kite Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Will there be enough time for them to raise another brood ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Magpies are usually culprits, but not sure about them tackling house martins Normally they will have another clutch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Will there be enough time for them to raise another brood ? [/ QUOTE ] Dunno mate, according to the fact sheet I got here they will be about until late September, early October before taking a holiday in the Sahara. Alright for some eh?? They are busy rebuilding the nest now and will more than likely be at it until midnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 I had house martins outside my window at my parents one year. It was quite cool watching the young ones grow up, but the constant chirping did my head in while I was trying to sleep. They started building another nest the following year so I sat out in my window with a water pistol to 'deter' them. Sad to hear about the nest collapsing, can imagine getting attached to them and not nice to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 According to the fact sheet JT....a nest "giving way" or collapsing is quite common with housemartins. I suppose even more so given the amount of heat we have had recently and the fact that I have an east facing garden that seems to get the sun until early evening. Yes, we did get attached to watching them build the nest over the initial three weeks, then the egg shells appearing, the sad face when we saw the mess and dead chicks. At least one will pull through though! The person I took it to today has all the incubation stuff needed to raise young chicks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChadW Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Saxondale would know what to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 RSPB??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Mose, a fortnight ago i was cutting down an old apple tree in our front garden as it was covered in ivy and was blocking out too much light, halfway through i notice a nest so i pull it out and to my horror there are three tiny babies in it. So i put it back and hope that the parents come back, the following morning i see mum on the nest and since then she has been feeding them constantly. Yesterday atleast one youngster flies out of the nest so we are both very happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Ahhhhhhhh.....good news mate!!! See I feel good at least trying to save the two I found, albeit losing one of them overnight. The one made me smile in the car today as it was chirping away and spreading its wings, obviously in love with the sound of the V8. Even my daughter sleeps through the sound of the Monaro......God knows how! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booster Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 Mose, Know how you feel. I posted a while ago about the family of ducks in my garden. All the neighbours did our best to look after them, got special feed and put out water for them. The RSPCA and the RSPB weren't interested and I ended up finding a local bloke who rescues all sorts of birds. He helped no end. After nesting in my neigbours garden at night and hanging around in mine for a fortnight, one morning the ducklings were all gone. It seems that a jackdaw or another bird(s) took them as a fox would have made more of a mess of them. The mother stayed around for 2 day calling for them. It was very sad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Ahhhhhhhh.....good news mate!!! See I feel good at least trying to save the two I found, albeit losing one of them overnight. The one made me smile in the car today as it was chirping away and spreading its wings, obviously in love with the sound of the V8. Even my daughter sleeps through the sound of the Monaro......God knows how! [/ QUOTE ] but i still want to cut the tree down mind you there is a bigger one behind it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Ahhhhhhhh.....good news mate!!! See I feel good at least trying to save the two I found, albeit losing one of them overnight. The one made me smile in the car today as it was chirping away and spreading its wings, obviously in love with the sound of the V8. Even my daughter sleeps through the sound of the Monaro......God knows how! [/ QUOTE ] but i still want to cut the tree down mind you there is a bigger one behind it [/ QUOTE ] Then get ya arse down to Mrs. Smith in Elstead She will take them on for you!! Then you can upset millions by twating the tree!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kite Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 hope they manage to rebuild the nest. Enjoy watching the next brood grow up and fly to the sun ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hashluck Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 We started with one nest of housemartins and now have nine after several years. We feel priveliged to have them despite the mess. Watching the fledglings leave the nest and gradually gather confidence is priceless. We look forward to them coming back each year. We had one nest 'collapse' this year I think due to the heat, fortunately no casualties. I think the housemartins themselves have a bit of a turf out every now and then as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 We've had Housemartins ever since we moved in here 6 years ago. The nests collapse on a regular basis and so far this year they've not managed to keep one up for the full term. Usually we find the cats playing with the dead chicks or something and it's quite common for a collapse when it's just been raining or it's been very hot. I think it must be sudden damping of the structure or long periods of dry heat which does it. I don't mind them at all nesting on our house, but I refuse to start trying to rescue them when they fall tbh. Nature has a way etc. and life goes on. They usually manage to keep one nest up every year at least, but it's been a bad year for them this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntW Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 we have some robins that nest in the ivy by the kitchen door, they have been coming back for 4 years now so must be passing down the good nest site through the family as they only live a couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted August 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 I waqs grateful for the torrential rain yesterday, it cleared all of the housemartin shyte off my decking They've rebuilt the nest bu am oubtful if they will rear any young....its no too long before they all bugga off to the Sahara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Having read your post I now have a warm, fuzzy feeling all over. It's a shame they didn't all make it, but credit to you for all your effort it rescuing one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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