how long do swallows/swifts nest for please?

[sharontodd]

Can anyone tell me how long swallows (i think - white belly and forked tail) nest for. Do birds generally nest in a building then move away after a certain time. Have had these birds and a variety of others nesting in roof next to me since may and wanted to know how long before or if they move on please?

[Mr Mag00]

Hi, our swallows here are still nesting the latest hatchlings are about 1 week old. they will continue to nest and lay as long as the weather is conducive to do so, unfortunately this normally means they leave behind some young when they decide to leave. last year our last fledglings flew from the nest in the first week of september.
swifts have all fledged they are still in the area feeding but it seems they are around less and less during the day.

[Dae]

Swifts I think leave for their migration in august. And I think the swallows, sand martins, and house martins have a few broods between May and October before they head out on their migration in October.

[sanderling]

Swallows have a far longer nesting period than Swifts..

Swallows arrive from March and some even staying as late as November enabling the possibility of raising several broods during the nesting period....

Swifts do not usually arrive until late April / May or June,depending on the weather etc. and then they fly back to Africa again in early August - this usually only gives enough time for one brood sometimes allowing for a replacement if the first brood fails...

[squodgy]

It is the end of the first week in July 2011. We have just been camping & doing a bit of birding at Spurn Point on the mouth of the River Humber in Yorkshire.

On our way out of the Wildlife Trust reserve, there was much excitement as SWIFTS started passing through at a rate of 200/hr heading south!!!!

The sky seemed full of them at one stage, they were all definitely heading south....in early July!!! Do they know something only Piers Corbyn can explain???

[Kittiwake]

I've had a swallow's nest for the past 2 years and they haven't left until October both years.

[Pat&Jeff]

Same here in far South West, two pairs nesting in the barns and chicks have fledged two weeks ago. They usually leave 1st week of October. Sad to see them go but thrilled to see them back again in April.