We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
Rimrock Mini Mall,
111 S. 24th St. West Suite 22
Billings, MT 59102
Phone: (406) 245-1640
Fax: (406) 245-1709
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Fri: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Dear Friend of Nature,
Woodpeckers are hard-headed. It comes with the territory.
When excavating, woodpeckers can strike a tree at speeds up to 15 mph. This is enough force to create brain damage in most other birds, and certainly in our human brain. But due to a number adapatations, woodpeckers thrive on this heavy hitting.
Woodpeckers’ skulls are incredibly strong, yet lightweight, as a result of a reinforcing meshwork of bony support struts. This skull structure moderates the impact of the blows while transmitting the force away from the brain.
With all that pounding, why doesn’t a woodpecker’s bill wear down to a dull nub? It does wear down, but special cells at the tip of the bill constantly replace the lost material, keeping the bill strong and sharp.
Woodpeckers’ tails are as tough as their bills. Woodpeckers’ pointed tail feathers are especially strong and rigid, and their tail bones, lower vertebrae and the tail’s supporting muscles are very large in comparison to those of other birds.
These modifications allow a woodpecker’s tail to serve as a sturdy prop that supports its weight while clinging to trees.
This behavior and many other woodpecker adaptations can be witnessed in your yard. Woodpeckers can easily be attracted to feeders filled with suet, especially varieties containing nuts. Simply offer these foods in a WBU Tail Prop feeder, and you can get an up close and personal look at some of the toughest guys in the neighborhood.
Don't forget to join us Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (November 20, 21, and 22) for Customer Appreciation Days! Homemade goodies, hot cider, special offers, $25 gift certificate drawings, and more!
John and Kathy Haigh, Store Owners, with Roger, Leslie, Angie, Karisa, and Studley
