Summer residents are birds that winter to our south, arrive in the spring, nest here and then return to their wintering grounds in the fall. Our two summer tenants are northern house wrens and broad-tailed hummingbirds. Since returning from Missouri yesterday, I have encountered one of each.
Soon, the cohorts of these pioneers will arrive and courtships will commence. Nesting will occur and the families will grace our farm until October. Among all the other species, these summer tenants tend to garner much of my attention.
Addendum: Some birders might suggest that I also include brown-headed cowbirds on my short list of summer residents. However, they merely lay their eggs in the nests of other songbirds and do not actually raise their young or reside on the property.
