Woodpeckers will forage for food which is why they drill in to the bark on trees. They eat mainly insects, as well as seeds and sometimes fruit. Some species, such as the red-headed woodpecker and the red-bellied woodpecker, do sometimes eat other birds – we’ve put together an article on their favourite foods here!

Woodpecker Diet As omnivores, woodpeckers eat fruit, nuts, and even tree sap.

Red-headed woodpeckers are generally solitary birds and only spend time with their mates during mating season, and when raising their babies. The RHW is omnivorous. They live on both plants and animals. But two third of their food comprises of the former.

No. Woodpeckers drill holes in wood, not people, even very hard-headed ones. If you threaten their nests they may bluff an attack by flying at you quite fiercely. While this is startling and intimidating, it is unlikely that the birds will actually harm you.

Once a very common bird in eastern North America, the Red-headed Woodpecker is now uncommon and local in many regions. Once very common throughout the east, but has been decreasing in numbers for years, and recent surveys show that this trend is continuing.

woodpeckers (and other birds) do break and crack their beaks. Depending on how big the crack is and where it is cracked will depend on survival rate. Some can repair.. but large cracks or complete breaks would usually mean starvation in the wild.

Woodpeckers are often characterized as “chisel-billed” because they peck into living or dead wood to find grubs or build a nest. Cells in the tips of their beaks are constantly replaced, preventing them from wearing down over time.

Woodpeckers endure many high impact shocks to their heads as they peck. Then, when their beak strikes, their heads slow down at about 1,200 times the force of gravity (g). All of this occurs without the woodpecker sustaining concussions or brain damage.

Woodpeckers are smart birds and very resourceful. Like any wild animal, they are drawn to areas where there is food and shelter. They will scavenge for food – bugs, vegetable matter, tree sap, berries, etc. – on trees and other wood sources and in the ground.

With each peck, woodpeckers absorb more than ten times the force it would take to give a human a concussion. But they seem fine. And when they do, they peck hard — with each peck, the bird undergoes a force of 1,200 to 1,400 g’s. By comparison, a measly force of 60-100 g’s can give a human a concussion.

Onions, any part- contains the toxin thiosulphate. Chocolate- contains the toxin theobromine. Coffee or tea- contains caffeine which is dangerous to geese. Anything visibly moldy or rotten.

Both the Chinese and Embden geese are great backyard breeds for the beginner. Additional breeds that can be quite friendly include the Toulouse and Pilgrim breeds.

Geese are waterproof. They don’t have to get out of the rain. Mine seek shelter from the sun, so they do use their shelter, but rain is just fun as far as a goose is concerned.

How to Tame A Goose

1. Water bottles won’t work!
2. Make eye contact with the gander at all times.
3. Look small and look less like a threat.
4. Most of all, talk softly.
5. Offer them treats.
6. Let them know that you take care of them- keep them supplied with water and feed.
7. If they hiss, do not hiss back.

Geese definitely recognize people, in fact, most birds tend to. Some geese prefer some humans over others.