Though some will lament that Florida lacks the colorful changing of seasons, there are still signs. In my mind, Summer doesn’t follow the calendar, it begins in early May with the onset of hot and humid weather and ends in mid-October when the heat finally subsides.

But long before there is a noticeable difference in temperature, the movements of several bird species hint at the seasonal changes ahead.

While many fly south to Florida for the winter, there is a good-sized soaring bird that wings its way from here to even warmer climes down in South America: the Magnificent Frigatebird.

During the summer months, small groups of Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) can be found soaring over salty water near me. Their 7-8’ long, narrow wings are not only distinctive but they are incredibly powerful- Magnificents are some of the fastest birds in the world, often hitting 95 mph!

While paddling recently I noted that the Magnificents had amassed into a much larger group (I counted close to 100 of them). To me, that was a sign they were getting ready to migrate.

I realized that my time to capture decent photos of them was dwindling. So, on my next free morning, I grabbed my camera and headed to Fort De Soto Park. Just before the entrance, I found them swooping low over a small fresh water pond.

Most of them flew off when I approached but fortunately a few of them stayed and continued drinking under the watchful eye of a white-throated female. After about 30 minutes, they caught a nearby thermal and slowly ascended high into the sky. What a wonderful experience, I look forward to their return next March!