Rain expected

[Syd Curtis <>]

Reid asked, 14 Aug. '04:
>   Does anyone else know of incidents (either fact or fable) where birds, by their activities or behaviour, seem to provide an advance indication/foreknowledge of coming physical events  - rain, thunderstorms, earthquakes, flood, locqust plague, etc, in advance of any indications being obvious to humans?

Family folk-lore in the 1930s was that when Currawongs gathered in a large flock all singing together, this indicated that rain was coming.  This was on Tamborine Mountain just in from the Gold Coast, southern Queensland.  

On 15 June 1984,  I tape recorded such a currawong chorus at the Caravan Park at Mt Warning, where I was staying to record Albert's Lyrebirds in the  National Park.  It was fine when I recorded the currawongs, but rain followed.  So much in fact that I had to stay an extra night because the creek came up and covered the bridge.

Coincidence?  Probably.  But just maybe ...

Cheers

Syd