NATURE: Woodpeckers: The Hole Story

Woodpeckers: The Hole Story Premieres Wed., Nov. 2, 8 PM

It’s November, and everyone knows that with Thanksgiving upon us, turkeys get all the fanfare. But, without ruffling any feathers, we wanted to spotlight another bird this month: the woodpecker.

NATURE: Woodpeckers: The Hole Story, goes deep into the woods to explore the lives of a unique avian family. Woodpeckers come in 239 species and live on every continent except Antarctica and Australia, playing a powerful role in every ecosystem they inhabit.

They come in all shapes and sizes, each uniquely engineered for their particular lifestyles. Filmmaker Ann Johnson Prum (NATURE: Super Hummingbirds) discovers what makes these birds so special through the intimate stories of woodpecker families across the world. Filmmaker Ann Johnson Prum. Courtesy of The WNET Group

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Black woodpeckers in Poland are elusive and have rarely been filmed. A pair of these large, imposing birds make a home in a beech tree, where they feed their hungry chicks.

Acorn woodpeckers love to collect acorns and “tattoo” them into the holes they create in trees. The acorns are woodpecker gold – high in vitamins, minerals, fats and protein. Placing these acorns into trees helps this food last throughout the winter.

Gila woodpeckers make their homes in cacti in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. After carving out the nest cavity in between the spines, the Gila must wait several months for the inner pulp to dry into a tough leathery casing before moving in. Acorn woodpecker nestlings in nest. Carmel, CA. Courtesy of The WNET Group

Downy woodpecker on tree in winter. Brooklin, Maine. Courtesy of The WNET Group

Noteworthy Facts:

• Woodpeckers talk to each other by drumming. Each species taps out its own rhythm to stake out a territory and call for a mate.

• Holes are the woodpeckers’ universal trademark. No matter where they live, every woodpecker makes a hole for a home.