This has been a little mystery. At least researchers have long wondered how woodpeckers can repeatedly throw their heads at tree trunks without damaging the brain. The most well-known theory has been that the skulls have functioned as shock-absorbing helmets. But now a new study refutes this. Researchers believe that the small heads rather act as rigid hammers, and that a shock-absorbing effect would have prevented the bird’s ability to chop. With the help of video analyzes, they also believe they have found the answer to why the small brains do not crash in the powerful shocks. The new study is published in the journal Current Biology. That is why the woodpecker chops Photo: Geir Sagen Claiming of territory, preferably takes place after Christmas winter and spring. To search for industry / accommodation. On buildings mostly where there is rot damage, but also on brand new buildings, as many insects can hatch from new material. It is claimed that some woodpeckers may be tricked into believing that there are insects or ants in the walls due to. static electricity that causes vibrations in buildings. The strange thing is that in a construction site / cabin field, as a rule only one house / cabin is affected by such damage. Most often, the color of the building is red! To cut out nest holes. Occurs on both fresh and old trees, but never on buildings. Source: Norwegian Ornithological Society A powerful concussion When the beak of a woodpecker hits the tree trunk, the birds’ skulls are exposed to a force of what is equivalent to well over 1000 times gravity. If this had happened to us, we would at best end up with a severe concussion. In one second, some of the woodpeckers can chop 20 times. It is therefore easy to imagine that this will have consequences. But no, say researchers. Although the head does not act as a shock absorber, the chopping does not have major consequences. The brains are so small that they can withstand it. – Has shattered a myth The researchers in the new study have analyzed videos at high speed. Here they have studied three different species of woodpeckers. They then used the data to build biomechanical models. Using these, the researchers concluded that a shock-absorbing effect would be detrimental to the birds. Sam Van Wassenbergh has led the study. He believes the new results help to refute old “myths”. – When I have been to zoos and filmed woodpeckers, I have often heard people explain to each other that woodpeckers do not get headaches because they have shock absorbers inside their heads. This has also been mentioned in books and by the media, says the researcher. – This myth is now shattered by our findings, Van Wassenbergh continues. The researchers looked at three different woodpecker species in their study. One was the white-breasted woodpecker, the other was the flag woodpecker, and the third species they studied was … the black woodpecker. – Qualified guesses Sverre Lundemo works in the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature, and is an expert on woodpeckers. He thinks it is exciting that a study challenges existing knowledge. – There are a number of assumptions about how the woodpeckers are adapted to this, which seems to have been qualified guesses so far, but which have not been investigated in practice, he says to news. Sverre Lundemo is a senior adviser for biodiversity in the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature. He now works as head of the rural environment. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / news Nevertheless, he believes the new research does not come with many new answers. – The study does not take us much closer to why woodpeckers can withstand this force – although they believe that this refutes the hypothesis that parts of the power from the woodpecker are absorbed for each notch. Lundemo, on the other hand, thinks it is good that the topic is being researched. – It is known, among other things, that woodpeckers are seen to develop helmets and other materials that need to handle power. Nature has developed innovative solutions to a number of problems over tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions of years, and this has inspired a large number of disciplines in various ways. In that sense, it also makes sense to look at how the woodpecker can hit the ground with great force, the expert explains. Woodpecker in full swing on a tree trunk. It is the only one of our woodpeckers that mostly feeds on conifer seeds in the winter, the others eat insects all year round. Photo: Jostein Hellevik Easy to recognize No matter where you are in the world, it is easy to recognize a woodpecker. They have a number of common characteristics: Short, powerful feet that enable them to hold on and climb up tree trunks. Stiff tail feathers, which support the bird during climbing. And pointed, powerful beaks to pick with. The three species observed in the study were the flag woodpecker, black woodpecker and the North American white-breasted black woodpecker. Sam Van Wassenbergh says the findings of the study, from an evolutionary point of view, may explain why there are no woodpeckers with much larger head and neck muscles. – A larger woodpecker could have chopped harder, and then perhaps a concussion could have occurred. It had probably led to problems, the researcher explains. Furthermore, Van Wassenbergh and his colleagues will find out what significance the beak and its shape have for the chopping.
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Why do woodpeckers not get brain damage? Researchers have a new hypothesis – news Trøndelag
