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House martins - Jeff Evans (3rd Jul 2025 21:20:41)
For about 30 years after we moved to Liphook in 1976, house martins nested in the eves of our house, they returned the year before last after a 15 year absence but since then have not returned. I still see them occasionally in flight over Liphook and was wondering if anybody had had them nesting this year. I appreciate that they have nest-building difficulties now due..? to the lack of mud to use in construction, and wonder if the man-made artificial nests are the answer to this problem caused by our warmer summers
Re: House martins - Peter Rowan (4th Jul 2025 06:41:15)
Re: House martins - BallBoy (6th Jul 2025 10:16:13)
Dear Jeff,
I have tried - but only one or two - the artificial cups (from RSPB) and have not had any success; I think at least in part because I installed just one or two cups at a time. One might need to install a lot of the cups, to provide bags of choice for the martins ? The RSPB cups are comparatively expensive - so frankly I gave up with them !
However I have had success with what are called 'footholds': 2inch by 1inch timber battens 4 to 6 inches in length, fixed to the wall 4.5inches below the soffit board. I fixed on (10 at one location in UK) using all weather builder glue. I gather that ideally paint the same colour as the wall/soffit. Pretty cheap to make and install.
Such footholds were featured in RSPB Magazine of Summer 2017.
Unfortunately I cant readily locate a diagram or photo.
Good Luck !.
Re: House martins - Jeff Evans (10th Jul 2025 19:19:28)
Thanks to previous correspondents for their advice.
Unfortunately I have had to suspend the soffit replacement work that provided the access necessary to fit artificial nests due to the discovery of asbestos.
While I try to resolve this tricky situation for the long term, I was happy to see martins nesting in a neighbouring property. So I am happy to wait until the 2026 nesting season before implementing these innovative suggestions.
