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ACORN WOODPECKERS BUILD TREE STORAGE THAT TAKES UP TO 50 THOUSAND ACORNS

Acorns are a favourite food of many woodland animals, but none compare to the acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus). The western United States and Central America are home to this medium-sized woodpecker. They make an amazing system for storing their valuable acorns by using their remarkable pecking ability.

Acorn woodpeckers use dead branches, trees, homes, or even utility poles to make "granaries" or "storage trees." The birds peck in the dead wood, creating perfectly formed holes that they use year after year to store their winter food stash. These remarkable food stores aren't the product of a single acorn woodpecker, as they can have up to 50,000 holes. Up to 12 birds can live in family groups within the species, sharing nests and even raising chicks together. Together, they also construct the granary, which will be used by future generations to sustain their food supply all year long.

The woodpeckers make sure that other animals won't discover these storage trees and steal the acorns for themselves, despite possible worries about that happening. They can jam the acorns into the holes so securely that it would be difficult for anyone searching for a free snack to get them out. 

The acorns shrink a little as they dry out, which makes it simpler for the acorn woodpeckers to remove them when feeding time comes. A member of the group periodically inspects all the acorns and moves any that have shrunk to a smaller hole to make sure nothing is too loose before they are ready to eat. Ornithologists have long been captivated by these intricate social behaviours, and their behaviour has been extensively researched.

Despite their strong association with acorns, acorns are not the main food source for acorn woodpeckers all year long. To survive the winter, they rely on acorns as a backup food source and prefer insects, saps, and fruits. 

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