Help!! Fallen martins nest

[bobbolds]

Please can someone offer me advice. I awoke this morning to discover one of the martins' nests in my horse's stable has fallen to the ground! The five nestlings which are now well developed but haven't yet started flying are huddled together in the woodshavings bedding intended for my horse. Their mother is still feeding them and now the horse has gone into the field for a few hours, they seem quite happy. Is it best to leave them where they are or should I attempt to move them somewhere safer as the horse will be returning to the stable in a couple of hours? The nest now resembles a pile of old hay rather than a nest, but would they be happier sitting on that out of harm's way or would I do more harm than good in trying to move the nestlings? Any advice most welcome.

[sunnydale]

Hi bobbolds.

I've just done a quick search and found this info from the RSPB

The RSPB: House martin: Damaged or broken nests

I would probably attempt to replace the nest if I were in your situation,

Hope this helps, good luck
Tracey

p.s....let us know how you get on!! :-)

[Naturenutz]

i would leave them where they are if you can as the parents seem to have accepted the situation, obviously if the horse is going to be in danger of standing on them you may be best trying to move them . it depends how well developed they are, if they are near fledging they may scatter if you try to move them. The parents wont desert them when they are this well developed as long as they can find where you have moved them. So if you do move them dont move them far . Best of luck
vic

[sunnydale]

Forgot to say, put rubber gloves on before handling the nest or the chicks, otherwise the parents might reject them!!!!

[Naturenutz]

if you have a ledge in the barn anywhere you can rest the nest remains , they wont need alot of room just somewhere for them to rest on. They dont stray from the nest so a small shelf would be an ideal last resort . You could even rest something against the barn wall for the birds to rest on as it sounds like they are close to fledging they wont be there long , maybe a few days if they are fully feathered.

[bobbolds]

Thanks for all the advice - most helpful. Decided to try and move so horse could come back to stable without harming them. Four of them took flight, and one transferred safely to the fallen nest which is placed in wheelbarrow on a bed of shavings. All are in view at the moment and are being fed and I will keep watch from a distance. Many thanks to all concerned.

[Naturenutz]

Hope they do ok , And that the cats stay away .