The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-13
California Varieties Conduct Worm
IncubatOrs I'm Dead Trees.
Los Angeles Herald

Real genuine forethought is a thing with
which birds are but seldom charged. Ma
ture teaches her feathered children to build
their nests in anticipation of the nesting
time But that bird should think out
several steps of natural phenomenon and
deliberately plan several weeks ahead for
banquets of bird delicacies is almost too
much for the most ready believer.
But the California woodpecker, as hand
some a bird ever lived on the side of a
tree, must be given the credit of being
really thinker and a planner. He is a
college professionally, logician-among
his kind.
Have you ever seen acorns on sycamore
trees?" is a question often put to the tour
list in California. No matter what he an
swers, he is driven into the country and
there actually shown the sight-acorns on
sycamores. For in many parts of the South
trees both sycamore and oak may be seen
with the bark drilled full of holes and with
a live oak acorn in every hole.
These trees are thus decorated by the
woodpecker at infinite cost of labor and
truly with foresight.
Finding a dead tree or one with bark TO
his taste. the woodpecker will commence
the drilling Of small holes, usually I'm rows.
Each hole is made of the diameter of ones
second finger and depth of about an inch.
Trees may be seen that are literally pock-
marked with these holes, the openings be-
ing the work of successive generations of
industrious woodpeckers.
The holes drilled by actual work of a bill,
each opening has hammered into IL live
oak acorn. Scientists have watched these
birds at their work. They hammer away
at various holes, remaining only a short
time at each. Then they fly away In search
of acorns, which they carry from consider
able distances in their claws, often drop
ping the slippery nuts. With the beak the
nut is started into a hole just large enough,
and not hairs breadth too large, to re-
ceive IL. Again the hammering beak is
used, and the nut is driven tight and fast
into its place.
So tight are the fits often OF these acorns
that il is almost impossible to get them
out with ones fingers. The writer has seen
many unsuccessful attempts to pick out
these stored-up treasurers.
But in this where is there anything so
wonderful? Do not many birds and insects
attempt to store food for dull times?
Wherein lies the forethought of the wood
pecker?
The truth of the matter is that when the
little thinker puts an acorn In its proper
and to him expensive. hole. IL is not at all
because he has an acorn tooth. He sees a
step ahead. for he knows that worms will
the ultimate object of his tolls.
Holes in trees are fun to build and will
keep acorns of the ground. out OF reach OF
pigs and other natural processes OF de-
struction. Sooner or later worms will form
In acorns-and what food can wood
pecker have better than worms2 Surely
the little fellow has sound sense when he
sets his table often weeks ahead OF his
feast of grubs. He looks we'll ahead.
This explanation of the fact that wood
peckers actually do drill and MI thousands
OF holes In dead trees Is very often doubt
ed Yet IL Is put forward as a fact by
many careful observers, and Is really a
! story that does great credit to the wood
pecker.