• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

sloely

enjoying life slowed down

  • clutter free
  • simply frugal
  • natural remedies
  • grow your own
  • non toxic living
  • Simple Parenting

Did You Know? Seagulls Can Tell The Weather

December 15, 2017 by Alice 15 Comments

Did you know seagulls can tell the weather  ... #birds #nature
We finally had snow in London this week! Hurrah!

OK it didn’t last. But we’ve not had proper snow for 4 or 5 years so we’re allowed to celebrate a bit.

We knew the snow was coming – and the previous week’s storm – because the seagulls told us.

You what? Yes really.

Seagulls – you see – can tell the weather! They’re brilliant at it.

Now most of the time, we don’t have seagulls around us.

Some live a few miles north on the Thames and most live – obviously – on the coast 30 miles away.

BUT there are times in the year when a BIG flock appears in our little corner of south London.

They like it here, when the weather’s bad because it’s built round two sheltered valleys. Which still have ponds in them left over from the old rivers – now underground – that used to run through.

BUT the seagulls DON’T turn up when the weather gets bad.

Oh NO! They turn up en masse 4 or 5 days in ADVANCE.

And when they turn up, we can guarantee there WILL be bad weather within the week.

EVEN sometimes when the weather forecast says there won’t!

How on earth do the seagulls do it?

Did you know seagulls can tell the weather  ... #birds #nature

Well. It turns out the seagulls are like a barometer.

They can sense the small but significant changes in air pressure that indicate a storm is on its way.

This amazing ability to tell the weather and move inland for shelter helps seagulls survive storms.

How cool is that?

BUT if you watch the seagulls carefully when they come in land.

You’ll see them do something else.

Just before the storm comes in – usually the day before – you may spot big groups of seagulls flying round in tight circles together.

Do you know what they’re doing?

Did you know seagulls can tell the weather  ... #birds #nature

They’re recalibrating their barometers, that’s what.

As the change in air pressure becomes intense, they need to adjust their sensors.

If they don’t, they won’t be able to detect new changes in the air pressure.

And by flying around in circles together they can do that. Wow!

So the next time you see a flock of seagulls turn up in land prepare for a storm.

EXCEPT – in July – when they use their barometer for another INCREDIBLE reason.

BUT that’s a story for another day. You’ll have to wait to find out.

I hope you enjoyed this little nature note.

For more simple ways to explore nature with kids at home and in the classroom do follow me on Pinterest and have a read of these posts:

  • Dissecting Flowers To Explore Pollination
  • The Life Cycle Of Ladybugs
  • The Life Cycle Of Geese
  • Making Rainbow With Prisms
  • Writing On Tree Bark

Did you know seagulls can tell the weather  ... #birds #nature

Seagulls Forecast Weather

Original image source: seagull, seagull on post

Filed Under: Explore Nature With Children Tagged With: outdoor kids

Previous Post: « Simple Spiritual Self Care Tips
Next Post: Easy Daily Cleaning Routine »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ilona says

    October 26, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    Yes, in Philadelphia, PA they predict coastal storm very well and yes 4-5 days in advance. So, they cost up the Delaware River and their favorite spots are the fast food places with large parking lots.My daughter qas eating Wawa’s bacon egg and cheese she didn’t finish the bagel so I told her to toss it on the sidewalk something will eat it. Before it could hit the sidewalk a seagull got it midair. First one I’ve seen that day. Later in the day more seagull where flying around.

    Reply
  2. Sally-ann says

    July 12, 2019 at 11:25 pm

    I live near water, gulls fly around all the time, what I wanted to know is why do they fly in the rain

    Reply
  3. Lyn says

    July 24, 2019 at 9:02 pm

    What happens in July???

    Reply
  4. Andrea says

    February 28, 2020 at 12:33 am

    Today I noticed that there was a bigger then usual amount of Seagulls flying all together in circles. Some really high up, like the way hawks circle food. Do Seagulls really do this before a storm? If so, that would be so cool!
    So the weather man last night was calling for snow in the Mts. And in near by city’s. I guss we will just have to wait and see.
    It was really cool to find this article!!!

    Reply
    • Alice says

      February 28, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      It’s fascinating isn’t it – but really is true, they can feel the changes in weather and storms coming a good way out!

      Reply
  5. Michael Dunne says

    August 20, 2020 at 3:54 pm

    Saw this for the first time on evening Tuesday Aug 18th 2020 here near the south coast of Ireland when I noticed about thirty seagulls flying in a circular pattern which was moving from the South West to the North East which would be inland. I was amazed watching it – so thanks for the explanation. On Wednesday, exactly 24 hours after I saw them we had a storm here in Ireland.

    Reply
    • Alice says

      August 21, 2020 at 2:05 pm

      It’s quite amazing isn’t how good they are at forecasting the oncoming storm!

      Reply
    • MARTINA SMALES says

      August 25, 2020 at 7:01 pm

      I was sitting in my allotment in Yarm Teesside yesterday evening about 7.30 pm and for at least 5 minutes I watched hundreds of seagulls all flying SW to NE above me. Some would pause & circle a little way ahead over the river and then continue on. I often see movement of flocks of corvids later in the day, but this was extraordinary, so many for so long and in one direction on into the distance. Was this anything to do with storm Francis?

      Reply
      • Alice says

        August 27, 2020 at 10:13 am

        Almost certainly yes. Could be particularly striking because we’ve had a series of storms following very quickly after each other. They seem to be able to forecast 4 or 5 days out and the circling is their way of testing the air pressure changes.

        Reply
  6. Michael Ward says

    October 18, 2020 at 10:36 am

    Cormorants can tell when it going to rain and when a dry spell is due. If one is seven flying upstream it’s a sure sign that it will rain. If flying towards the coast o dry spell is due. The reason is that during a dry spell fish will accumulate at the estuary because the river water is low. When it rains fish will go upstream and there will be plenty in the lakes feeding the rivers. Cormorants seem to know this and so can predict the weather.

    Reply
  7. Linda says

    June 2, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    I live in Meaford Ontario, last night around 12:30 I went outside to check on my solar lights, on my way back inside, I looked up in the dark sky, and flying in circles were at least 10 or more looked like birds but they were glowing that’s how I noticed them, they didn’t make a sound just kept flying in circles, do seagulls glow like that in the dark, there were no lights on where I am, could it be something ELSE?

    Reply
    • Alice says

      June 2, 2021 at 3:46 pm

      Good question. They can fly at night but most don’t or at least haven’t. Quite a lot of birds are becoming confused by light pollution into night time activity but as it was dark sounds like it was something else!!

      Reply
  8. James C says

    March 22, 2022 at 7:14 am

    The migrating Seagulls return to my area in Cut Bank Montana as a sign that winter is coming to an end for mating. Usually within a week or two of the equinox. This year, just like last, they arrived on the exact day of the equinox.They aren’t always 100% accurate given how unpredictable weather can be at my latitude as sometimes a late spring storm might bring some snow, but it melts off fast in the warmer weather. This particular flock winters in the interior of Central California and Central Nevada.

    Reply
    • Alice says

      March 22, 2022 at 8:07 am

      The sense of time of so many birds have is amazing isn’t it? There is a nest of swifts in the eaves of the house opposite in me in London. I am awed by their ability to return back from Central Africa to that specific spot on within a day of May 5th every year.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Get To Know The Birds In Your Garden With Your Kids says:
    January 15, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    […] appear, it ALWAYS means a storm or snow is on it’s way! Can you guess who it is? Have a peek here to find out […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar



PRIVACY - DISCLOSURE - ADVERTISE - COPYRIGHT

Footer

Clutter free …

Gentle Declutter Method - Just 10 Things
Declutter List Of Things To Declutter Right Now

Grow your own …

Spring Vegetable Planting List
Natural Mosquito Repellents For Garden And Camping
How To Grow Raspberries In A Small Garden
Growing Rosemary From Cuttings In Water

Natural remedies …

FODMAP Diet, IBS & Stomach Pain
Anti Inflammation Diet
The Fastest Ways To Reduce Inflammation
PRIVACY - DISCLOSURE - ADVERTISE - COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT