Spring is in the air, or at least there’s a sign of it with the arrival of longtails in the Bermuda area.

The white-tailed tropic birds have been spotted at various locations around the Island over the past week.

According to Bermuda Audubon Society President Andrew Dobson, two were seen off Spittal Pond by Audubon member Keith Rossiter on January 31. “These were particularly early as the birds are rarely seen before February,” said Mr Dobson.

“Since then, birds have been noted at various points along the South Shore. If the weather returns to typical February conditions, the Longtails may not be particularly common until the end of the month.

“These seabirds are pelagic in their habits, spending the non-breeding months on the ocean in tropical waters to our south,” he added.

For residents who usually have longtails nesting on their property he said the Audubon Society encourages “to make sure the nest holes are clear and that the base of the nest has a thin covering of sand”.

“Longtails only lay one egg and will not re-lay if disturbed by dogs or cats.”