Nature. THE ACORN-STORING WOODPECKER.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1604, 14 October 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

Nature. THE ACORN-STORING WOODPECKER.

Upon turning to the volume on ornithology in the Geological Survey (of California) publications, in reference to this species of woodpecker, it says : — " They are fond of playing together around the branches, uttering their rattling calls, and often darting off to take a short sail in the air, returning to the .same spot. They have a habit, peculiar to theni, of drilling small holes in the bark of trees, and fitting acorns tightly into them, each one being carefully adapted and driven tight. The bark is often so full of these as to scarcely leave room to crowd in another without destroying the baik entirely. These are generally considered as laid up for a winter supply of food ; but while in this climate no such provision is necessary, it is also very improbable thaji birds of this family would feed on hard nuts or seeds of any kind. The more probable explanation is, that they are preserved for the sake of the grubs they contain so frequently, which, being very small when the acorn falls, grow until they eat the whole interior, when they are a welcome delicacy for the bird. Whether they select only those containing grubs, or put away all they meet with, is uncertain ; but as they leave great numbers in the tree untouched, it is probable that these are sound acorns, and often become a supply to the squirrels and the jays." Without questioning the foregoing as to the preference of the woodpecker for animal food, and especially for the larva) often contained in the acorns, it is undeniable that, in common with the jays, they are exceedingly fond of fruit, as many an orchadist can 'testify ; and their predilection for almonds hefore these nutp are quite ripe, is well known to the cost of many almond growers ; that they eat other nuts and also acorns to some extent, I have no doubt. The jays and squirrels are quite likely benefited by the acorn-storing habit of this species of woodpecker ; and I have been told that the jay sometimes assists the woodpecker by bringing acorn 1 ; for the carpinter to deposit in the bark ; and further that sometimes the jays put pebbles in the acorn holes "to fool the woodpeckers;" but these latter statements, though perhaps true, need confirmation. As several woodpeckers are engaged in the work~at the same time on the same tree, their operations, as may be imagined, are carried on with a good deal of vivacity and noise, in which the jays become interested, and dart about, adding to the tumult in their own peculiar chattering way. The latter have related singularities in the matter of food-storing, as will be seen below. The friend, Mr. Dwinelle, whom I have already quoted, states that the large thistle, which is abundant in certain places in 'Alameda county, owes its distribution in part to the jays who take the seeds, whioh are of good size, and plant them in the ground. ' He further states that a friend of his, who fed Indian corn to his chickens, had observed the jays fly down and pick up a kernel and then go off a short distance and plant it; in this way he discovered how it was that stalks of' maize came up and were growing where he had never planted, , Mr. Dwinelle has himself seen a jay plant - an acorn in the ground of his«( Mr. D.'s) houseyard or garden in Oakland. The bird deliberately made a hole, thrust in the acorn, covered | it and then put a chip on the spot, perhaps the .latter as a .mulch; then flew awayj-fqirnd another acorn, whioh it accidentally dropped (in a growth of periwinkle? (myrtle/, and l after/ ! searching for it .without finding it, gavd up awayv , <, '- - * .'''«.' 1 -V As' it is, hardly lpresumable>,tHat the jays* plant'iejjiherV^he); cprn-pritKe, ithistlefibr;itlie| pu^ose of ppr^etuaimgthbseispeciesidf, plants. crops, iit''is!/h^ely;tthat'sbeing'ifullffed >r (!at^the|

buries a bone, and forgot all abou^ it, or not needingrttie same, the peeds remained where the bmls planted them, until they germinated and grew into plants. The holes made by the woodpeckers in 'the bark of trees also serve as a lurking place for beetles, ants, and other insects, so, that both vegetable and animal food are brei%ht together side by side to furnish a meal in time of need v in which perhaps the jays sometimiesJpartioi'pate. Judging by the tree herein described,,it would seem as if there were enough for all. Mr. Bice is of the opinion that the acorns are stored simply for the larva), which the carpintero eats after the maggot -has attained a gpod size. He also relates the following, which is worthy of note :— •" On cutting down a hollow Oak on his father's place, a woodpecker's nest was discovered after the tree had fallen, and a young bird of the carpintero species was found and caught, being unable to fly. It was carefully reared, and became a 'great pet with the family. After it had reached maturity and was perfectly able to fly, though no restraint was placed upon it, it would come at once in answer to call, leaving its fellows in the trees. Upon one occasion, when the family went several miles from home to visit a friend, the bird followed them, though at the time they were not aware of it, and' only learned the fact from the friend whom they had visited, and who caught and kept the bird until an opportunity offered for returning it. Probably if it had not been caught it would have followed the family back." There is a larger species of woodi)ecker, with plumage much resembling that of M. formicivorus, which sometimes aj>pears in flocks and helps itself, or tries to do so, to the stores laid up by el carpintero, who bravely fights the maurauder. I have been unable to learn to what species these depredators belong.