Donal Hickey: The mystery of birds migrating

Have migratory birds some mysterious ability to forecast the weather?

Swallows and swifts have by now departed Ireland for Africa, before our winter sets in.

AS thousands of over-wintering birds arrive here from northern climes, having flown thousands of kilometres, people wonder just how they do it with unfailing regularity.

And, given that they tend to use fair winds and the most favourable weather conditions, the question arises: have they some mysterious ability to forecast the weather?