Endangered Bird Said to Predict Earthquakes

Kuwau (Argusianus) is the name of a bird believed to have an instinct to detect an imminent earthquake.

An official on Indonesia’s island of Sumatra says that an endangered bird in the quake-prone region has the ability to predict major earthquakes up to two days before they actually strike.

Coordinator of the West Sumatra relief aid coordinating agency, Ade Edwar, told the Antara news agency that a type of pheasant known as a Kuwau can be heard for more than a half-mile as it “sings” before the shaking from a quake arrives.

“This bird will be acting rather unusual and sings very often, which is a sign that a major earthquake is coming,” Edwar said.

He pointed to reports from residents in one community who said the Kuwau was sounding an alarm before the devastating Sumatra quake on September 30.

"If science can prove this, a Kuwau would be a great asset to highly quake-prone regions in the country," Edwar told Antara.

China has conducted extensive tests to evaluate animal behavior prior to earthquakes.

Researchers there report limited success in using livestock and other animals to predict impending quakes.

Photo: Stock