Last fall we watched six Swallow-tailed Kites circle around our neighborhood before roosting in a tree across the street from our house. The next morning, they were all gone. Most likely they gathered to rest for the night before they began their trek to South America for the winter. While Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog) is a predictor of spring, to a birder in Florida, the Swallow-tailed Kite’s return means they’ve returned to Florida to mate and raise their offspring and summer is not far behind. These birds are amazing to watch. They can glide through the air without using their wings for what seems like an endless period. We spotted one today, flying over the exact same spot we saw them in fall. It’s our sign that summer is coming. We love to watch them and we’re glad they are back!
