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How long do birds t...
 

How long do birds take to fully fledge?

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We have a birds nest in our front porch.

House martins or similar.

We have stopped using our front door so not to disturb them. I set up a wifi camera to keep an eye on them and we can also watch them from inside the house. We've really enjoyed watching them.

There are 4 rather large looking chicks in the nest, who appeared to leave 2 days ago but have come back each evening to roost/sleep. This morning they appeared to have left again but came back at about 11 o'clock.

How long before they leave completely?

They have made a bit of a mess and we would like to get our front door back, how much longer before they leave for good?

 

 


 
Posted : 05/07/2026 11:54 am
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Posted by: gobuchul

They have made a bit of a mess and we would like to get our front door back, how much longer before they leave for good?

Some young will keep reappearing for a free feed until they migrate completely, like teenagers the world over

They'll probably keep coming back to your porch, year after year.


 
Posted : 05/07/2026 12:07 pm
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Posted by: timba

Posted by: gobuchul

They have made a bit of a mess and we would like to get our front door back, how much longer before they leave for good?

Some young will keep reappearing for a free feed until they migrate completely, like teenagers the world over

They'll probably keep coming back to your porch, year after year.

Don't really mind if they do. I'll set the camera up in a much better position and much closer to the nest. I'll also put something underneath, some cardboard or such like, that can be quickly swopped out when it gets dirty. There is a huge amount if guano from such little birds!

 


 
Posted : 05/07/2026 12:12 pm
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We has some blue tits nesting in a bird box I put up early this year. Really wasn't expecting any. It's on the back wall of our garage above our sitting area. Once we spotted them we stopped using the seating area for a few weeks. They apparently fledge very quickly.


 
Posted : 05/07/2026 12:19 pm
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Fat little buggers.

 

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Posted : 05/07/2026 12:49 pm
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Its hard to be sure from the photo, but those look like swallows. House martins wouldn't have a nest like that. Well done on letting them get on with it, but you might get a 2nd brood as you've been so accommodating!


 
Posted : 05/07/2026 5:29 pm
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They look like swallows to me too.

The chicks will probably start gathering together in family groups in the next few weeks and start the long journey to Africa mid August.

Hard to say when they will leave the nest. Luckily for you I think it's too late for their parents to start another family.

 


 
Posted : 05/07/2026 5:43 pm