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Predicting the weather from the calls and behaviour of the r...

Date 21 September 1970
Track ID 66840
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1970.243

Original Tape ID

SA1970.243

Summary

Predicting the weather from the calls and behaviour of the red-throated diver.

The rain goose or red-throated diver used to be the weather-glass [i.e. barometer] in Shetland. Its cry could predict the weather. "Droughtowerall, droughtowerall, droughtowerall," predicted fine weather. "Waarweatherandwaarweet, waarweatheranwaarweet, waarweatheranwaarweet," meant it would change and become wet.

As well as these cries, the following verse reminded people how to predict the weather from the rain goose's behaviour:

When the rain goose gings tae tha hill,
Let aa man put doon his boats an fill.
When da rain goose gings tae da sea,
Let aa man pull up his boats an flee.

Recording Location

County - Shetland

Parish - Yell

Island - Yell

Village/Place - Arisdale

Item Location

County - Shetland

Parish - Yell

Island - Yell

Language

English, Scots

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good