What if you could slam your head into a wall twenty times every second, all day long, and never get a headache? Most animals would get seriously hurt, but there's one bird that does this every day. The woodpecker. I'm your host, Garrett Maroon, and before I introduce my two curious co-hosts, we have another review. RayaC.15 says, My kids have listened and re-listened to each episode multiple times. They love them and they have learned so much. They ask me every day if there's a new episode out. Great podcast, and we all look forward to new and upcoming episodes. Thank you so much for the review. If you love this show, please leave a five-star review and throw on a little comment. My kids love it. And if you'd like a birthday shout out or have an idea for what we should talk about next, email us Nature LovingKidsPodcast at gmail.com. Now let me introduce my two co-hosts.
SPEAKER_02Hi, I'm Hattie, and I've heard woodpeckers knocking on trees before. And I'm Ivy, and it sounds like someone's hammering.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. That loud knocking sound in the forest is one of nature's most interesting superpowers. Today we're learning about woodpeckers, the birds built to hammer trees. Woodpeckers peck trees for a few different reasons. First, they're looking for food. Inside tree bark live insects, beetle larvae, and ants. Woodpeckers use their beaks like tiny jackhammers to reach them.
SPEAKER_02So they're basically drilling into the tree.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. Once they find the insects, they use their super long sticky tongue to pull them out.
SPEAKER_03Sticky tongue?
SPEAKER_01Yes, a woodpecker's tongue can be almost three times longer than its beak. And when it's not using it, the tongue actually wraps around the back of its skull inside its head.
SPEAKER_02That's really disgusting and weird.
SPEAKER_01Nature is full of surprising designs.
SPEAKER_02But how do they not get hurt from hitting the trees all day?
SPEAKER_01That's the amazing part. Woodpeckers have several built-in protections. A super strong skull, special shock-absorbing bones, very powerful neck muscles, and a tiny brain that fits snugly inside the skull. All of these work together like a natural helmet.
SPEAKER_02So their body was designed to handle the impact.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. A woodpecker can hit a tree 20 times per second and up to 12,000 times a day.
SPEAKER_02That's a lot of knocking.
SPEAKER_01Alright, time for a quick joke break. Ivy, what do you have for us?
SPEAKER_02Why did the woodpecker cross the road? Why? To get into the other pine.
SPEAKER_00Huh?
SPEAKER_02Why did the woodpecker bring the pencil? Why? To draw some pectures of his favorite trees.
SPEAKER_01Woodpeckers don't just peck trees for food, they also carve holes in trees for their homes.
SPEAKER_02So they build their own houses?
SPEAKER_01Exactly. They dig nesting cavities where they raise their babies. And here's something cool. After woodpeckers move out, other animals move in. Animals like owls, your favorite animal, Hattie, squirrels, which Ivy calls scuolas, ducks, my favorite animal, and other small mammals.
SPEAKER_02So woodpeckers build houses for other animals too?
SPEAKER_01Yes. In nature life, one animal's work often helps many others.
SPEAKER_02Death, did you know there are over 200 species of woodpeckers around the world? Some live in forests, some live in deserts, some even live in cities.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I heard that. You might hear them knocking on trees, wooden houses, or even telephone poles. Their drumming sound also helps them communicate with other woodpeckers.
SPEAKER_02So they're basically sending messages by knocking.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. Alright, time for a few more woodpecker jokes. What do you have for us, Ivy?
SPEAKER_02How did the woodpecker cross the tree? How?
SPEAKER_00Huh?
SPEAKER_02What did the owls say to the woodpecker?
SPEAKER_01What?
SPEAKER_02Hello, my name is Woodpecker.
SPEAKER_01Think about this. God designed a bird that can slam its head into a tree thousands of times and still stay perfectly safe.
SPEAKER_02That's pretty incredible.
SPEAKER_01It reminds us that animals are built in amazing ways by God to survive and thrive in their environments. Woodpeckers may seem like simple birds, but they have one of the most fascinating superpowers in nature. From shock-absorbing skulls to extra long tongues, everything about them is designed for life in the trees. Thanks for joining us on this week's Nature Loving Kids Podcast.
SPEAKER_02If you like this episode, share it with a friend. And remember, click the follow button. New episode every Wednesday.
SPEAKER_01Until next time, stay curious, get outside, and remember, the world is full of wild wonders.
SPEAKER_02If you really like this podcast, please send us a review. Me and Ivy really love the reviews.
SPEAKER_03I read every one. Wait a minute, I can't read.