Male dropped by

[sherylsr]

Here we are, late into May, and I'd about given up for the season. Then yesterday evening, I heard martins and ran over to the Meadow (our adjoining lot) to check our house. Sure enough, a male martin was circling around! He even landed on the house a few times and tried to get inside two compartments but left, obviously frustrated. Our Coates suite house has half-moon openings. Now I'm wishing I'd gotten circle openings. Do you think he'll figure out how to get in? Is it too late in the year for nesting?

Yesterday, I also talked to my neighbor, who'd been getting martins every year in her house. Linda told me that she was "mad" at me because I'd stolen her martins. Oh, no, I assured her. I don't have any either! The birds evidently abandoned her second house this year. I think I know why: the pole is bent pretty badly, and the house tilts to one side. They abandoned her other house a few years ago-too many tree branches encrouching.

In the meantime, we're keeping the sparrow nests cleaned out. I hope the male will return!

Anyone have any thoughts? Is it too late for martins to start a nest? We live in Blanco in the Texas Hill Country.