They might be just doing what they normally do when their young begin to fly. This morning I saw a family group, with youngsters cavorting in flight. They landed on our irrigation pond, it took 2 tries for about half of them as they are still rather new at this flying/landing thing! In the past I've seen big groups flying a lot in mid to late summer, early fall, strenthening the wings of the youngsters for the eventual big trip. I'd see them going south, then north, then south, then north and finally it dawned on me that this was normal behavior. Yours might not be doing anything they don't usually do. Maybe you are noticing it more because of the drought. Or maybe you are right. Watch and see.
