Because the summer is so short, it is critical for birds to make the most of it by nesting as early as possible. Gyrfalcons get a head start by wintering in the Arctic, and thus have the first pick of nesting cliffs in spring. Early nesting means that their offspring are already leaving the nest, while other birds have only just hatched, ensuring a good supply of easy prey for the young falcons as they learn to hunt.

Geese do not winter in the Arctic, but return very early, often before the snow has left the tundra. They store up energy, feeding heavily in the south, because there is little or no food available when they reach their breeding grounds. By the time their eggs have hatched, however, summer has arrived and there is plenty of new vegetation to eat. Many shorebirds and ducks also nest early. Unable to leave their eggs exposed to the cold, females of the common eider duck do not eat or drink for a full month while they incubate their eggs! Once the young hatch they are cared for by "aunty" ducks, while the exhausted and half-starved females recuperate in preparation for their southward migration.