Lazy housemartins

[mycatis]

How long do housemartins stay in the nest? I have a nest above my front door and they have been there for weeks, when they stick they're little heads out they look about the same size as the parents. I'm sitting everyday (at a distance) hoping to see them fly for the first time. Do I have the laziest birds in the world?

[ShellyHall]

I watched some of "Springwatch" on BBC2 last week and they were watching a nest of swallows.  The birds flew from the nest one morning, however they returned to the nest at night to sleep.  They said this wasn't unheard of, but was unusual.  It was quite sweet to see the 5 "baby" swallows all huddled up together in the little nest.

Could it be that your housemartins just keep returning to the nest for a bit of rest?

[mycatis]

Maybe but I haven't seen them come out at all, last night and today one of them is hanging out of the nest looking like the one behind is shoving it but still no flying, pah!

[ShellyHall]

Any developments with the housemartins?