Predicting the weather from the calls and behaviour of the r...
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1970.243
Original Tape ID
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
Island - Yell
Parish - Yell
Village/Place - Arisdale
Item Location
County - Shetland
Island - Yell
Parish - Yell
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good