These Basic Knowledge About Woodpeckers

With the mention of woodpecker, the first thing that comes to everyone's mind is the long-billed bird that pecks woods rapidly. But, there is more to the pecking ability of this unique bird that separates it from other different types of birds. Here are some interesting facts about woodpeckers.

There are more than 180 species of woodpeckers worldwide, but none of them are found in Australia, Madagascar or New Zealand. A woodpecker's tongue is up to 4 inches long depending on the species, and it wraps around the skull. Many woodpeckers have barbed tongues that help them extract bugs from trees and holes.

Woodpeckers don't get headaches from pecking. Their brains are tightly cushioned and protected. The average life span of a wild woodpecker can last from 4-11 years, depending on the species. The most common plumage colors for all woodpeckers are black, white, red and yellow. A few species also have orange, green, brown, maroon and gold in their coloration.

Most woodpeckers have zygodactyl feet, which means they have toes facing the front and toes facing the back to help them grip trees and poles vertically. They use those toes with their stiff tail feathers to brace on trees as they climb. Woodpeckers eat bugs, sap, fruit, nuts and seeds. In the backyard, they are often attracted to suet feeders or nut feeders.

The two largest woodpeckers in the world are the imperial woodpecker and the ivory-billed woodpecker, but both may be extinct. The largest confirmed woodpecker is the great slaty woodpecker of Southeast Asia, which measures 20 inches long. The piculets are a type of woodpecker found South America and Asia and they are the smallest woodpeckers, measuring only 3-4 inches long depending on the species.

Woodpeckers do not have vocal songs, and instead they drum on resonant objects such as hollow trees and logs, utility poles, chimneys, rain gutters and trash cans. Woodpeckers drum to attract mates, establish territories and otherwise communicate, and both genders are known to drum.

Most woodpeckers have a distinct undulating flight consisting of a few rapid wing beats followed by a quick glide when the wings are tucked against the body rather than spread like many other birds. The greatest threats to woodpeckers include habitat loss through urban development and population sprawl, insecticide use that eliminates food sources and natural disasters such as forest fires that eliminate dead wood for feeding and nesting.

What You Must Know If You Want To Breed A Swan

Before becoming a swan breeder, it is required that you first do your research on swans, specifically raising swans. The Internet has various resources, articles, etc that concentrate on all about swans. It is a great idea to first read and understand those resources before you actually buy swans for sale.

One of the very first things you should know before you even think of breeding or caring for the above mentioned birds is that they need to live in a body of water. Unless you have a pond that's big enough or a lake beside your property, you can't really make yourself into a swan breeder. Before even purchasing these birds, you should take steps to create a pond, or a man-made lake, as having no pond or body of water where swans can live will really make you a failure in raising swans.

Most resources that discuss all about swans will also mention the need for barricades or for fences that can serve as protection for the above mentioned birds. A swan, after all, is a gentle creature, and though it can fight other creatures to protect itself or its family, it won't stand a chance against wolves, foxes, etc, thus before you take home swans for sale, make certain that aside from a lake or a pond, you have built in fences or structures that will keep predators away.

As a swan breeder, you should also ensure that your birds have a place to nest. You should make sure that their habitat has some bushes and trees wherein they can form nests. Remember that these birds lay eggs and if you want to succeed in getting hold of cygnets, in other words, baby swans, when your males and females mate, one of the steps of raising swans is to create areas where nests can be built.

A lot of all about swans books and guides will also teach you that the adult birds will usually be the ones to care and guide their babies. If there's a sick cygnet, however, you'll notice how it is left alone or ignored by its mom and dad. As the owner or swan breeder, you’ll have to be the one to give the cygnet its needs, care for it, feed it, and the like. The parents may seem cruel, but this is a reality that you should know before you even purchase swans for sale.

When raising swans, remember, as well that you have to ensure that your birds will always have clean water to drink, and of course, good food to eat. The usual foods that swans eat are: leaves and stems and even roots from water plants, small aquatic animals, insects, and for the domesticated birds: grain and corn.

There Are Several Different Types Of Bird Feeders Available

To start, all you need is a bird feeder filled with seed that's attractive to the birds in your area. There are several different types of bird feeders available:

Hopper feeders are usually made of metal, wood, or plastic. A large hopper or container holds the seed, with holes or levered dispensers to allow the birds to access the seed on a small tray or spout. Hopper feeders will accommodate many types and sizes of birds and are a good choice for beginning bird watchers. The downside is that the seed is exposed to the elements and to plundering critters.

Tube feeders have perches and feeding ports around a hollow tube. They're designed for smaller perching birds and may be geared for specific types of birds. For example, finch feeders have small openings to dispense tiny thistle seeds and short perches that discourage other birds. Since birds have to reach in the tube for seeds, they are more squirrel-resistant than open feeders.

Platform feeders are open and flat, sometimes with a roof to shield rain and drainage holes to prevent flooding. They can accommodate large crowds of birds and can either be placed high, for perching birds, or near the ground, for ground-feeding birds. Platform feeders can be used with any kind of bird food, such as seed, peanuts, or even bits of fruit or suet.

Suet Feeders are usually made of wire mesh and designed to hold cakes of suet or other fatty food. Suet cakes are made from rendered beef fat mixed with seed or fruit and allowed to harden. They may be purchased premade, or you can make them yourself. Suet feeders are particularly useful during the winter when birds need to increase their fat intake in order to stay warm.

Mesh Feeders come in various shapes and sizes and can be made of wire, plastic, or fabric. Birds feed by pulling seed through holes in the mesh. Peanut feeders are wire mesh tubes with large openings for dispensing shelled peanuts. Sock-shaped fabric feeders often come prefilled – just hang and enjoy. Other feeders are designed for specific proprietary seed or food cakes.

Nectar feeders are different from other feeders in that they use a liquid, rather than solid, food and are specifically designed to attract either hummingbirds or orioles. Nectar feeders consist of a reservoir which is filled with a liquid solution of sugar and water, with small perches and feeding openings for hummingbirds' long bills or larger openings to accommodate oriole beaks.