在我們從小的印象中,
啄木鳥都是所謂「樹的醫生」
啄出樹幹中的蟲子,
在吃飽的同時解決蟲害問題。
以上都是真的,不過並不全面。
啄木鳥啄木,一般認為有五個原因,
捉蟲只是其中之一。
1
Woodpeckers peck wood to find thir food
啄木鳥通過啄木來尋找食物
When woodpeckers see larvae, ants or other insects within a wood,
當啄木鳥在樹裡看到幼蟲、螞蟻或者其他昆蟲時,
they start to peck in ordre to get them.
它們就通過啄木去弄到這些蟲子。
Once they create an opening on the bark of a tree,
當啄木鳥在樹幹上打開一個缺口後,
they utilize their amazingly long tongue to catch those insects.
它們會利用自己長到驚人的舌頭,把蟲子捉出來。
2
Woodpeckers communicate by pecking
啄木鳥通過啄木來交流
Unlike many other birds, woodpeckers are not vocal birds.
和許多其他鳥類不同,啄木鳥不是會發聲的鳥類。
That means you won't meet a woodpecker that sings
那意味著你不會遇到一隻鳴唱的啄木鳥。
Instead of tweeting, they drum the trees to make a tapping sound.
啄木鳥是通過敲打樹幹發出「篤篤」的聲音,來替代啾名叫
that sound helps them scare off possible predators and rivals.
這個聲音有助於嚇走可能的捕食者和競爭者
In addition, that sound helps them to attract mates.
此外,這個聲音也可以幫助它們吸引異性。
3
Pecking allows woodpeckers to build their nests.
啄木鳥利用啄木來築巢。
By pecking on to the wood, woodpeckers make holes on the tree to structure their future nest.
通過啄木,啄木鳥在樹上鑿洞,來築造自己未來的巢穴。
If a woodpecker makes multiple small holes in a wooden structure,
如果一直啄木鳥在樹幹上鑿了若干小洞,
that means they are more likely foraging for food in that area.
那意味著它們更有可能是在那個區域尋找食物。
But, if you see one working on a larger hole,
然而如果你看到一隻啄木鳥正啄出一個大洞,
that is an indication of their nest effort.
則是它們築巢行動的暗示。
4
Woodpeckers peck because they can.
啄木鳥啄木,就是因為它們能啄木。
Contrary to most birds, woodpeckers have a strong neck and beak,
和大多數鳥類不同,啄木鳥的頸部和喙部很結實。
which enable them to peck the wood continuously without harming themelves.
這使得它們可以連續啄木,而不會傷到自己。
They are capable of pecking 10,000 times a day.
它們有能力一天啄木1萬次。
Their strong necks have a natural shock absorbents
啄木鳥強有力的頸部是一個天然的打擊吸收器,
which help them balance the vibration in order to avoid concussion.
能夠幫助它們平衡震動,以避免腦震蕩。
5
Woodpeckers mark their territory by pecking
啄木鳥通過啄木來標誌領地
Woodpeckers use pecking as the way of showing authority in a territory.
啄木鳥用啄木作為宣告領地所屬權的方法。
They drum against wood loudly to let know other birds that they are present in that territory.
它們大聲啄木,來讓其他鳥知道自己已經存在於那片領地中了。
總結來說,
鳥喙是啄木鳥賴以生存的全功能工具,
它既是一把鑿子,
鑿開樹洞,獲取食物,築巢。
也是發聲工具,
通過敲樹來交流,求偶,宣布領地。
但啄木鳥啄木並不一定對樹木有好處。
啄出的洞可能給樹造成一定的損傷,
而部分啄木鳥喜歡吸食樹液,
則可能造成更大的破壞。
啄木鳥可能造成的另一個問題是—
它們不只是啄樹,
有可能也會去啄木質結構的建築,
這主要是為了築巢。
這樣一來,
不僅柱子上會留下大大小小丑陋的洞,
建築本身的牢固也會受損。
為了減少問題的出現,
人們往往會用錫紙、膠帶或特製的紙張,
來驅趕啄木鳥。