Whether it’s the stock market or weather, predictions are made every day based upon data and trends. In 1868, a prediction for severe storms was made on a specific day, ten months in advance. It was Christmas Day, 1868 and British naval engineer Stephen Martin Saxby made this astounding prediction. Through the London newspaper, The Standard, he believed an "atmospheric disturbance" would occur on the following October 5. On October 4, 1869 in the northeastern United States and Canadian Maritime Provinces a gale claimed 100 lives, destroyed homes and grounded ships. It became known as "Saxby's Gale." Saxby's prediction was based on the position of the moon relative to the Earth. This scenario repeated itself during Hurricane Lili in October, 2002. From Saxby to humming... Some of our viewers and readers have reported an increase in hummingbird sightings in August and September. Birdwatchers report that the ever popular Ruby Throated Hummingbird will leave our area at the end of the month with a few staying year-round. The website: hummingbirds.net reports that in addition to the Ruby Throated Hummingbird, twelve species of hummingbirds, from the Rufous and Black-chinned to the Broad-tailed, Broad-billed and Green-eared hummingbirds pay us a visit. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species that breeds east of the Rockies and will journey to their wintering grounds in Central America. National Wildlife Week’s, “Wildlife and Weather” suggests keeping your feeders in place for some stragglers.