Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Woodpeckers in the Woods


While I was trying to capture my robin on video, I heard this sound in the woods. This was early in the morning and where ever this guy was, he was busy pecking out his breakfast.

The Handbook of Nature Study, page 71:
"But even more wonderful than this is the mechanism by which the downy and hairy woodpeckers get their food, which consists largely of wood-borers or larvae working under the bark. When the woodpecker wishes to get a grub in the wood, it seizes the bark firmly with its feet, uses its tail as a brace, throws its head and upper part of the body as far back as possible, and then drives a powerful blow with its strong beak."

She has a wonderful description of woodpeckers starting on page 70 and continuing until page 74. I highly recommend this section for those focusing on birds in their nature study. Fascinating.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom

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