Move over meteorologists, birds are back in town

Imagine stepping out on a beautiful sunny day, only to return looking as drenched as your dog after a swim in a stream. We are increasingly accustomed to such unexpected and dramatic weather changes. With catastrophic cyclones, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and forest fires on the rise in recent decades, we are left with pressing questions. While many ask ‘why,’ today I pose: “What if animals knew first?” Growing up, I was told that cows lying down signaled imminent rain. Though this is a wives' tale, research indicates that animals' migration patterns often shift in response to weather predictions.

Image made by Elena on canva

Scientists have studied the Veery, a small North American thrush, exploring its potential as a natural weather forecaster. Veeries frequently shorten their breeding season to migrate south to the Amazon Rainforest when hurricane season arrives prematurely. Christopher Heckscher and his team have established this link through their research on Veery migration. In simpler terms, phenology, the study of seasonal changes in animal and plant life cycles due to climate, is central to their research. To summarize Heckscher’s work, researchers equip these birds with small GPS tracking devices, monitor their feather molting, and observe whether early departures indicate a severe hurricane season or whether later migrations suggest a delayed season. While meteorologists have been refining hurricane predictions for decades, incorporating Veery migration patterns could enhance accuracy. The mechanism by which these birds sense weather patterns remains a mystery, but you can learn more about Heckscher’s work through this research article: Research on Veery Migration, and episode 1 of the Netflix series ‘Connected’.

Screen grab from the Audubon bird migration map of a Veery

The Veery bird is one of the many ethnozooindicators. The term ‘ethnozooindicators’ refers to animals whose behavior humans observe to predict weather events and climate changes. This practice has been observed in various cultures for millennia. Ethnozooindicators are crucial for weather prediction in indigenous communities, particularly as extreme weather events become more frequent. Four scientists, Kandida Nyakaisiki, Isaac Mugume, Triphonia Ngailo, and Rhoda Nakabugo, conducted research in the Kabarole district of Western Uganda. Their article, ‘The Use of Indigenous Knowledge in Predicting Changes in Seasonal Rainfall by Smallholder Farmers of Ruteete Sub-county, Kabarole District’ Research in Uganda, details how farmers use livestock behavior and flora to predict the onset of rain or dry seasons. 

Collaborating with elders from indigenous cultures worldwide could significantly improve weather prediction, enabling better adaptation and mitigation of extreme weather impacts. Notably, many animal migration patterns have shifted in recent years due to global climate changes. Are you familiar with any ethnozooindicators? And do you believe we should integrate more natural world observations into weather prediction?