Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
BIRDS AS WEATHER PROPHETS.
How GuIls, and Woodpeckcrs foretel
Weather Changes

How Gulls, and WOOdpeckers fOretell
Weather Changes.
In Hampshire swans are believed to- be
Matched in thunderstorms, and it is said
that those on the Thames have an instruc-
tive precedence of floods. Before heavy
rains they raise their nests. This is
characteristic of many birds, which add
piles of material 10 their nests to prevent
swapping. When rocks fly high and
seem to initiate birds of prey by soaring,
swooping and falling, it is almost GER
tain sign of coming storm. Staying in the
vicinity of tie rookery, returning at mid
day, or coming to roost in groops, are al
so said to be omens to the like effect.
Various proverbs would seem to indicate
that the cry of the owl if heare in bad
weather, foratells change.
The constant iteration of the green
wood pecker's cry before a storm has Civ
en- it the names of rain bird, rain pie and
rain fowl. StOrmcock is a provincial
name shared by this bird and the missed
thrush, the latter often singing through
gales of wind and rain. Storm bird also
is applied is the feIdfare. The adherence
in which mariners hold the swalloWlike
storm petrol is well known; its appear
ance is believed to denote wild weather.
This little is the Mother Carey's chicken
of sailors, and is also called storm finch
and water witch. Herons, says an old
author, flying and down in the evening,
as if doubtful where to rest, "presage
scme evil approaching weather. legend
as old as Virgil, though probably devoid
of foundation.
Concerning guIs in general, children
who live by the sea say, "SeagulI, seagull,
sit ON the sand; it's never good weather
while you're on the land" and fisher folk
know that when the seameWs fly out early
and far to seward fair weather may be
expected. To Scotch shepherds the
drumming OF the snipe indicates dry
weather aud frost at night, ard Gilbert
White remarks that woodcocks have been
observed to be remarkably listless against
snowy, foul weather; while, according to
another author, their early arrival and
continued abode "foretells liberal har-
vest" In Wiltshire the coming of the
dotterel betokens frost and snow, and
there is proverb that the booming of the
bittern will be followed By rain or worse.
In Morayshire, when the wild geese go
out to sea, they say the weather will be
fine; but if toward the hill, stormy.
is said to foretell rain; that of the blue-tit
cold. In the South of France so much
store is set by the wisdom of the magpie.
that if it builds its hest on the summit
OF tree the country-folks expect season
of calm; but if lower down, wind and tenn
pests are sure to follow. When a jackdaw
is seen to stand on one Of the vane8 of
the cathedral tower at Wells, it is said
that rain is sure to follow within twenty
four hours. Wells must be wet place!
In Germany, dweIlens in the country lack
faith in the skylark's song of announcing
fine weather; but when the lark and the
cuckoo sing together they know that sum
mer hes come. The robin, buzzard, lap
wing, starting, and number of other
birds are said to foreteIl weather changes;
we have noticed that in nearly all the
species named the various cries and calls
are closely connected with the birds food
supply.