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Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

birdwatchingdaily.com

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Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#31

Post by kyleblarson »

olyjohn wrote: post #15
blincoln wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you haven't already, you should check to see if you have rot or some kind of insect infestation. Around here, at least, they typically only go after wood with bugs inside.

Those fuckers woild pound on my gutters for hours. Never once on anything other than the aluminum gutters. But they love the loud hammering sound, as it calls out to potential mates. So when they find something loud they will tend to come back to it.

Yeah I think they're hammering on some component of my metal roof as it has a very metallic sound. I love birds in general but have considered loading my 22 with bird shot on multiple occasions when they wake me out of a deep sleep.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#32

Post by Somatochlora »

endorphine wrote: post #4
doomrobo wrote: post #2

This explanation is apparently controversial https://www.science.org/content/article/contrary-popular-bel...

> Whether digging for food, constructing housing, or luring mates, woodpeckers bang their heads into trees about 20 times per second. Is that correct? I can't wrap my head around this, how is it possible that they do it so fast?

They definitely don't peck this fast when digging for food or making holes - those are slower more powerful strikes. The fasy drums are for the purpose of making noise.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#33

Post by dylan604 »

darkerside wrote: post #26
silisili wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, that would be a natural explanation if it were any of the 10 thousand nearby trees, or telephone poles even, and not the window awning. But it could just coincidentally be there were a lot of bugs in that awning, admittedly.

Sounds like instinct at play. Woodpecker found a food source, came back and it was dried up, and naturally, it started digging to find more where that came from. But what do I know, I'm just Monday morning armchair ornithologist!

TIL, don't hang a bird feeder of any type that close to a window.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#34

Post by yarg »

ranting-moth wrote: post #7
sqren wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you've ever heard a wood pecker in action, 20/second doesn't sound completely crazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6XOyUey4nQ

Interesting how its more like a bouncing ball easing off the bounce, instead of a pneumatic hammer.

Whatever energy goes back into the bounce necessarily isn't going into the tree.

The woodpecker is constantly applying it's force toward the tree so the bounce dampens over time.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#35

Post by vogt »

macabe wrote: post #22

Afraid to admit how long I've pondered the incredible evolutionary feat that is the woodpecker.

For the first time in my 36 years, I saw one out the window Saturday morning after I woke up. I felt like I was in the presence of a celebrity, and found myself semi-aghast at how excited I was. I tried really hard to get a video but he flew off. For those 15-20 seconds, watching him work was a treat. Life's simple pleasures I guess.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#37

Post by George83728 »

silisili wrote: post #12

I'm somewhat convinced woodpeckers are smart, conniving creatures. I always kept suet out, and they love it. All hours of the day, hanging upside down eating at it. But, if I ever forgot to replace it when it ran empty, I'd be awaken at the crack of dawn by a woodpecker hammering the window awning. Only when the suet was empty. Maybe it's coincidence, but I like to believe he was trying to remind me they needed more…

I believe it. I once had a bluejay that frequented my birdfeeder and would hammer on my bedroom window whenever the feeder ran dry. He'd peck at the glass so hard I thought it might break.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#38

Post by chasd00 »

kerblang wrote: post #24

Had a woodpecker in the hood a few years ago that liked to bang on metal lightpoles, to no ill effect. The apparent spouse would usually come shoo them off the pole after awhile, unproductive as such work is. Made quite a noise though.

Every now and then one will get on my chimney. It will peck on something metal and the sound echos down and comes out my fireplace. It makes a really cool sound.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#39

Post by lysp »

jessriedel wrote: post #20

> The woodpecker’s head strikes with at least 1,000 times the force of gravity (1,000 g), yet the bird suffers no apparent harm. By contrast, any human who experienced a 100 g impact would surely die. Nope, not true. 100 g accelerations of the human head (not just the helmet) happen routinely in football. > VT researchers gather data with the Head Impact Telemetry System, which employs sensors and wireless transmitte…

> Fighter pilots can handle 8-9 gees for a second or two, but will pass out after longer

Except this guy who eats 9g for breakfast...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0nbRYIBVDQ

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#40

Post by nohankyou »

Arrath wrote: post #23
olyjohn wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those fuckers woild pound on my gutters for hours. Never once on anything other than the aluminum gutters. But they love the loud hammering sound, as it calls out to potential mates. So when they find something loud they will tend to come back to it.

A couple years ago a wooden power pole (well specked with woodpecker drilled holes over the decades) in my backyard was replaced with a fiberglass one. At least one local woodpecker hasn't realized the futility of hammering on it to the tune of honestly almost cartoonish hollow BONK BONK BONK sounds, and continues to try to find a meal in the thing. I feel bad for the bird at this point.

Not unusual... I have two metal towers running through the back third of my property. The flickers love to bang on them, it really amplifies the sound. I assumed it was more a mating/attention thing.
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