May & June 2006
The world around us
Spring, it’s almost here! Long days, warmer temperatures, mud puddles, and the sweet sounds of anxious bird-
One of the most interesting and peculiar local birds are the woodpeckers.
We have three main year-round species. The hairy woodpecker draws the most attention with its larger size and loud raspy calling and hammering. The downy and three-toed woodpeckers are smaller and less vocal, with the downy most abundant in our area. The flicker is also a summer visitor, loud and colorful; it is common here and the lower 48.
Both woodcutters and woodpeckers have enjoyed the spruce bark beetle infestation in our area. The abundant larvae supply and vast forested areas make perfect woodpecker habitat. A common visitor, they often enjoy a winter treat at the suet or peanut butter ball.
All species are easily identified by their raspy, often loud “Kak Kak” call and hammering. Also identified by their unique pulsing flight and invisible ability to land on a vertical tree trunk with grace and precision. (After years of practice, a 30 degree slope max is my limit!)
I am often entertained by these aerial carpenters in the spring as they search for nesting areas and set up territories. They will hammer on anything that makes a loud noise from hollow trees and fuel drums to the side of a house, to make known their presence to other males and prospective mates.
One spring as I was working in our yard, I noticed a hairy woodpecker, that had been noisily hanging around for the last few weeks, was working on a hole high in a healthy nearby aspen tree. It looked as if it was preparing a large entrance for a nest probably with the hope of the tree being hollow there. After an hour or so he gave up and tried another spot lower on the same tree, and later yet another. Knowing the tree to be solid, I started to scheme. (uh oh)
I thought: 1) This woodpecker has been beating his brains out so long he can’t tell a hollow tree from a solid one, and 2) It really wants to nest in this particular tree, and 3) I need to rescue him before he suffers more brain damage.
So the next day, as he hammered at yet another hole in the same tree, I prepared the nest box of all nest boxes for this poor bird. Finding a hollow tree, of the same species, of course, and cutting a 24" section, I proceeded to fit it with luxury. A sloping roof, custom scribed inside fit bottom, matching diameter entrance hole and clean sawdust filling was added. I then proceeded to risk life and limb to hang the box high on the same tree, facing the same direction, even fitting a squirrel deterrent flashing around the base.
Soon after, here he came. I expected a sound of applause, but to my disappointment, he was unimpressed. He totally ignored it and switched to the next tree over and began yet another dead-end hole! Humbled and disappointed I decided I needed to learn a little more about this curious neighbor of mine.
It turns out they are quite a fascinating creature. Like a journeyman carpenter showing up at the job with all the latest and greatest tools, the woodpecker grows his own state-of-the-art equipment while still in the egg. He arrives at his job, which is no easy task flying without a plane(!) with a stout, sharp chisellike beak.
To keep from beating his brains out he is equipped with a special cushion of cartilage on his skull behind the beak.
He also comes equipped with a tongue much longer than other birds allowing him to extend it deep into a hole and stab a grub. The tongue goes from the beak all the way over the top, back and side of the skull, under the skin, back up to the nostril. The tongue also has a sharp point, barbs, and a sticky glue to help pull the grub out of a small deep hole. Then, it also produces a solvent for the glue to release the grub.
The special tail feathers and control muscles allow the woodpecker to form a tripod in conjunction with its four-toed feet, (most other birds have three toes). These tail feathers, in addition to being a flight control surface, are durable and strong allowing the woodpecker to brace itself for more effective blows on the tree.
So, with all this pecking and hammering why don’t they need eye protection? Slow motion photography has shown that between each peck, a woodpecker opens its eyes, aims, then closes again before the next peck. Wow! Try imitating that next time you hear a hammering woodpecker if you want to entertain your mate!
I have since decided to let woodpeckers make their own nests, and just watch with greater appreciation their flying and carpentry skills.
As evolutionists sit and scratch their heads in frustration on how feathers, avian lungs, temperature regulation, navigational abilities or even just one cell from one part of one animal could arise from random mutation, I hope you will join me in praise and adoration of our creator for this marvelous world around us.
References: 1) National Audubon Society; Birds of America; woodpeckers, pg. 137, Part II. 2) D. Juhasz; The Incredible Woodpecker, Exnihilo 1995, Vol. 18, page 10-13.
Excellent websites: www.answersingenesis.org and www.ICR.org
