House Martins

Our long-lived House Martin nest was a victim of the early year bad weather and most of it fell down, so we were a bit worried that our usual residents would find somewhere else to build this year. A few birds flew around and seemed interested and on Friday a pair started, we thought, to repair the nest. This morning we found the remainder of the old nest on the path so we feared the worst. However, all day long a pair have been busy rebuilding the nest so hopefully all will be well.

Help please - does anyone know if House Martins return to the same nest each year, and do their offspring take over the nest when the original birds have died, or do other 'free' pairs take over nests?