Who Is Drumming over There?

On a quiet morning in early spring, Puschel and Flauschi walked along the woodland path. Suddenly they heard a fast, dry rattle. It lasted only a moment. Then the woods fell quiet again. Puschel stopped and held one paw beside his ear.

Puschel“A woodland band is practising. But someone forgot the tune!”

Flauschi smiled and kept the green magnifying glass lowered. Just now they needed patience rather than a closer view. Between the trunks they spotted a black-and-white bird with red beneath its tail. It clung to the side of a tree some distance away.

Flauschi“That is a great spotted woodpecker. Listen and see whether the quick rattle happens again.”

Both stayed on the path. After a while the bird struck the wood very quickly with its beak. There was the rattle again. Puschel looked at the trunk as though searching for a tiny drum.

Puschel“Is its breakfast stuck so deep inside that it needs knocking out?”

Flauschi“Woodpeckers do peck to find food. But a fast drum roll can be a message. A great spotted woodpecker can use it to announce its territory: an area it claims as its own.”

Flauschi explained that drumming and searching for food could serve different purposes. One sound did not tell them everything about the bird. They did not need to approach the trunk or knock back.

Puschel“Then perhaps this is its wooden post today. Without an envelope, and very speedy.”

Flauschi“A useful way to imagine a message. Of course, the bird is not writing words into the wood.”

Puschel listened to another short roll. His own tail stayed very still. He did not want to drown out the sound. When the bird moved behind the trunk, they walked quietly on.

Puschel“There was no band. But I still heard something new.”

Flauschi nodded. The magnifying glass had stayed lowered, yet they had looked carefully. Sometimes a woodland discovery began with a sound and a little pause.