I sent out a newsletter a couple of weeks ago. When I do, I always include a giveaway, and since the heroine in my upcoming release, The Song of Sourwood Mountain, loves bluebirds, I looked for a bird related prize to go along with the winner’s choice of one of my already published books. So, when I saw a book online titled Bird Trivia; Fun, Strange and Incredible Facts about North American Birds by Stan Tekiela, I decided to make it part of the prize.
In an attempt to get newsletter readers interested in entering the giveaway, I put a question in my newsletter asking why woodpeckers don’t get concussions with all the pounding they do on trees. A few readers wrote back and told me the answer, but others were curious and asked why. So here’s what the Bird Trivia book says because I’m sorry to say I could only pick one winner to get the actual book.
Why woodpeckers don’t get concussions
The red-headed woodpeckers have the highest g-forces of all woodpeckers. When pecking wood, they hit trees with an impact of up to 20 times per second about 12,000 times a day. This subjects the brain to a deceleration of around 1,000 g’s. By comparison, astronauts on space shuttles experience 3.5 g’s during takeoff.
Woodpeckers have a spongy pad between the bill and the skull that helps absorb shock. They also have lightweight brains without a lot of mass, so their brains don’t hit the inside of the skull very hard with each blow. In addition, they have an extremely long tongue that wraps around the outside of the skull and anchors at the base of the bill to provide even more shock absorbing properties.
The book isn’t as big as I thought it might be, but it is filled with bird photographs and many more bird trivia answers. Just for fun, I’ll share a few of the incredible facts in the book.
Do birds have built-in sunglasses?
Well, not exactly, but they do have a unique oil droplet in the cone receptors in their eyes that provide a shield against UV light. That gives them something like built-in polarized sunglasses.
The Most Acrobatic?
If you have a hummingbird feeder and have watched them zipping in and out, sometimes chasing off other hummers, you know they are great in flight. They are the only birds that fly straight up, straight down or backward. They can hover without a headwind and even do aerial somersaults. That’s because they move their wings in a figure-eight pattern instead of flapping up and down. This gives them thrust and the ability to be very acrobatic.
What bird migrates the longest distance?
The Artic Tern nests well into the Arctic Circle. Most of these birds fly over the Atlantic Ocean to the Antartic and back, a distance of around 50,000 to 60,000 miles. That is twice the circumference of the earth. In an average eo year lifetime for the bird, an Artic Tern will fly more than 1.5 million miles which could take you to the moon and back more than 3 times.
So that’s a little bird trivia for you.
My newsletter winners were Dottie M. for the Bird Trivia book and her choice of one of my books, and Lee for the 2nd prize of her choice of one of my books. I had 200 entries and appreciate everyone who shared about their favorite birds. Next post I hope to write about the bird that was the undisputed favorite. Plus, I have a wonderful story that a reader has given me permission to share. So, hope you’ll pop back in later this week to read that.
Which bird do you think was a favorite?
Comments 11
I love the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. They would come to my feeder in Illinois. I have not seen a one here in KY.
Author
They are such pretty birds, Eileen, and I actually had a couple visit my birdfeeder this year. Not usual bird guests though.
I think the cardinal might have been a favorite.
Author
Suzanne, I think that little chickadee bird is one of the cutest that comes to my feeders. I like the titmouse too.
Lavon, you know what? Nobody mentioned the eagle as their favorite bird among my newsletter responders. At least, I don’t think so. Did you? But most were thinking of birds tha come to bird feeders. Don’t guess you’d see an eagle there. I would love to see an eagle soaring over my farm someday.
Lee, that cardinal is one favorite bird and is the state bird of several including Kentucky. I sent your book today. I hope you will enjoy the story. Since you picked Angels at the Crossroads, that will be a different type of story since it is the true story of a friend of mine. The story is as he told me.
Cindy, the cardinal is a beautiful bird.
Deborah, who can not love the hummingbird. They are so amazing.
Lisa, cardinals and robins are favorites for the very reason you say. People love seeing those robins to say spring is coming and the cardinals are so bright and fun to see at feeders.
Melissa, you are farther south than I am. The hummingbirds won’t be back around here until late in April. But I do love seeing them at the feeders I put out for them. My mom loved feeding the birds too.
Hummingbird is my favorite bird.
I love watching the birds. Mama and Daddy always loved watching the birds. We have feeders all year. It’s time to put up the hummingbird feeders. 🙂
I think the favorite is a cardinal.
Cardinal or Robin. Cardinal because when seen supposed to be reminder of a loved one in heaven. Maybe, Robin because when you start seeing them spring is supposed to be on its way
Congratulations to Dottie M! I hope she enjoys the bird book and learns some interesting bird facts. I am thrilled to have won second place and look forward to reading the book I chose. As for the favorite bird, I’ll guess it’s the cardinal since it seems to be the official bird of several states.
I’m thinking everyone loves those beautiful cardinals…I know I do. And I also love seeing the robins return every year with that promise of spring. But there’s just something about the majestic bald eagle that makes it the best for me! Is there anything more breathtaking than seeing an eagle soaring? 🙂
the black capped chickadee