The Woodpecker’s Pantry

1 Kings 17:14
“For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day [that] the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.”

Many kinds of birds collect and store food for later use. However, scientists recently reported that the female red-cockaded woodpecker collects, stores and appropriately uses a dietary mineral supplement as well.

As is true for most birds, the female red-cockaded woodpecker needs additional dietary calcium at egg-laying time. Scientists tracking the female woodpeckers noticed that within a couple days of egg-laying time, the woodpeckers began gathering and hiding bone fragments found on the forest floor. Upon spying a bone fragment, the female would usually consume a few flakes of it on the spot and then carry the rest off to her “pantry” for later use. As she laid her eggs, she would frequently return to her pantry and eat more flakes from the bone. Once egg-laying was completed, the female woodpeckers showed little interest in the bone pieces.

Scientists noted that this was the first time a bird had been known to collect and store dietary mineral supplements. They all pointed out that by collecting the bone from the forest floor and storing it in trees near the nest, the female woodpeckers were avoiding the risk of attack by floor-dwelling predators.

A healthy life requires planning and maintaining health balances. For this reason, the Creator’s love for all He has made led Him to give even the animals a detailed knowledge of how to stay healthy.

Prayer:
Father in heaven, help me to love all that You have made the way You do. I know that my love can never be perfect like Yours. But I also know that my care of Your creation and concern for living things can improve. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Notes:
“Red-cockaded Woodpeckers Stash Bone.” Science News, August 31, 1991. P. 143. Painting: Female red-cockaded woodpecker on right.