The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-12-15
Woodpeckers and Acorns.
How a Call iorni. Bird stores Up Food 70

How a Call orni Bird stores Up Food for
E. this Winter.
Mr.. Stearns read another Interesting
paper on '.The Administering Habits of
the California Woodpecker." In Nspa
county he examined fallen yellow pine
tree, the bark of which was full Of
acorn holes. Its length was Its feet.
and the diameter of its but. was 5 feet
10 inches, and. ut 90 feet. 3 feet inch
es. Above the ninety-foot line the
woodpecker holes were comparatively
few; neither were there any in the Grst
ten feet of the trunk from the ground.
A piece of the bark twelve by twelve
inches shows sixty holes. II we tako
a" average of thirty-six holes TO tho
square foot it gives us Al, ,O40 acorn
holes in the bark Of this one tree. Tho
holes are drilled to receive acorDs Of
different sizes. for these birds are exact
workmen, and each acorn is nicely
fitted into its special cavity. Wood
peckers reject the cups and store acOrns
without them. In Knights Valley he
observed woodpecker holes in q large
spruce tree, and was informed that they
also bore into the bark of certain oaks
to a limited extent. They havo habit
peculiar to them of drilling small holes
in the bark of severa. varieties of trees,
and fitting acorns tightly into them.
each one being carefully adapted and
driven tight. These are generally con-
sidered as laid up for a winter supply of
food; but while in this climate no such
provision is necessary. it is also very
improbable that one of the family
would feed on hard nuts or seeds of any
l kind. The more probable explanation
is that they are preserved for the sake
of the grubs they so frequently contain.
which, being very small when the acorn
falls. grow until they eat the whole in
terror, when they become welcome
lect only those containing grubs. or
store away all they meet with is uncer-
tain, but as they leave great numbers
in the tree untouched. it is probable
that these are sound acorns, and often
become supply to squirrels and blue
Jays. From this strange habit these in
dnstrious, yet playful and twittering
birds, have received from the early
Mexicans' the name of carpenters"
and this is also adopted by many Amer
leans. Trees used by them for such
storage contain on the average about
3G6 pounds of acorns imbedded in their
bark.
MIR. Brooks remarked that Mr.. Light
ner, a member of the Academy. had
carefully observed the habits Of wood
peckers and bluejays at the season
when these acorns are generally depos-
tied, and had desired him to state what
he had seen, and to ask some explana-
tions. Mr.. Lightner observed wood
peckers engaged in drilling holes in the
bark. when n bluejav was seen to fly
close up to one and inspect the size Of
the hole. Some very active chippering
then ensues, when the bluejay flies
away, but soon returns with 3 green
acorn without the cup, in his beak.
This he offers to the woodpecker, who
takes it with his beak and sets it into
the hole, and drives it home with few
taps, where it remains. This process
is continually repeated. MIR. Lightner
desired to know what were the special
benefits derived by this mutual service
conducted between an herbiverous and
a carniverous bird.
Mr.. Stearns said that great numbers
of untouched acorns remain in tho
Spring, which have developed no
worms suitable as food for the wood
pecker. and which supply nutriment to
bluejays and squirrels. Thus COM
munity of interest was manifest, ex-
planning their joint labors.