# Bogong moths fool weather radars across NSW

> Massive swarms of migrating bogong moths are appearing on rain radars as if they were rainfall, giving scientists an unexpected tool to track the endangered insects.
- Title: Bogong moths fool weather radars across NSW · the Guardian
- Summary: Massive swarms of migrating bogong moths are appearing on rain radars as if they were rainfall, giving scientists an unexpected tool to track the endangered…
- Keywords: bogong moths, weather radars, new south wales, insect migration, conservation, endangered species, australian alps, news, politics, Bogong, moths, fool
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/17/bogong-moth-swarms-rain-weather-radars
- Published: 2026-10-16T23:00:14+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: bogong moths, weather radars, new south wales, insect migration, conservation, endangered species, australian alps, news, politics
## Moths mistaken for rain in 2000
During Sydney's Olympic Games in two thousand, a bogong moth swarm attracted by stadium lights was so huge meteorologists mistook it for rain.
## Radars picking up moths again
Fast forward twenty six years and bogong moths are back in big numbers. Weather radars across eastern New South Wales are now detecting them on their migration.
## Rain appearing where none falls
The ABC's meteorologist reports widespread rain appearing on radar imagery across eastern New South Wales and Sydney, but many nights there hasn't been a drop of rain on the ground.

> The only problem is, many nights (it's appearing where) there hasn't been a drop of rain (on the ground).
## How radars detect the moths
Weather radars designed for rain, hail or snow use radio pulses to hit water particles and bounce back as echoes. Radio pulses may instead reflect off insect bodies and wings.
## Bureau confirms moth detection
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson says it is possible radars across eastern New South Wales are detecting bogong moths, as large numbers can look like very light widespread rain.
## Gold for moth researchers
Dr Kate Umbers, an associate professor in zoology at Western Sydney University, says radar data could be absolute gold for scientists trying to understand where bogong moths breed and their migration routes.

> How many bogong moths equals heavy rain?
## Flying foxes tracked the same way
Prof Justin Welbergen at Western Sydney University has been using radar data to track flying fox movements in near real time and retrospectively, discovering they emerge at predictable times each night.
## Aerocast prototype expands tracking
Researchers built a working prototype called Aerocast that tracks and counts flying foxes using radar data with a computer algorithm. Welbergen hopes to expand it for tracking birds and bogong moths too.
## Public sightings aid research
Dr Umbers says having millions of research assistants across Sydney and Canberra watching the latest bogong wave is the best possible scenario for understanding the species and its recovery.

> The moths are saying: don't forget about us, look after us, look how amazing and impactful and epic we can be.
## Key takeaway

Bogong moth swarms migrating to the Australian Alps are being detected by weather radars designed for rain, offering scientists new ways to track the endangered species.