Friday, December 19, 2014
I don't buy it
BBC reports on an interesting observation by adventurous naturalists.
Remarkably, the warblers' evacuation commenced while the closest tornado was still hundreds of miles away. Weather conditions in the nesting area were still nothing out of the ordinary. The most likely tip-off was the deep rumble that tornadoes produce, well below what humans can hear. Noise in this "infrasound" range travels thousands of kilometres, and may serve as something of an early warning system for animals that can pick it up.I don't buy it. Infrasound is carried by the ground. If we were talking about moles or earthworms or toads, might be plausible. But little birds rarely touch the ground. Even if they did, it would be impossible to sort out this particular rumble from all the vastly closer and stronger rumbles from cars, trains, air conditioners, rock-n-roll, etc. Electrostatic changes are much more likely. A severe storm system involves huge changes in charge patterns, easily detectable by airborne critters. Birds are constantly taking readings of electromagnetic fields for navigation. Electricity is literally in their wheelhouse.
Labels: Grand Blueprint
¶ 3:42 AM
