Acorn woodpecker: trypophilic bird at maximum speed (7 photos + 2 videos)
Hoarding is normal for many species of animals and birds. But this kid is ahead of the rest in terms of thriftiness and would definitely take the main prize at the caretaker competition. 
He took it exclusively with acorns and carefully and technically hid it in special pre-hollowed holes. Because it is in the nature of this amazing creature - Melanerpes formicivorus - the acorn or ant woodpecker. 
Inhabitants of oak groves along the coast of North and Central America, representatives of melanerpes woodpeckers are very small and weigh no more than 85 grams with an adult body length of approximately 20 centimeters. Externally, melanerpes resembles its fellow species and boasts a stylish outfit of the type black top - white bottom, and males also have a bright scarlet cap. 
Acorns usually live in colonies of 2-3 females and 5-7 males. With the onset of the mating season, they do not split into pairs. Females lay eggs in one common hollow or nest. All members of the commune take part in incubating and feeding the chicks.
What’s interesting is that there are voluntary and forced helpers in the group. These are young birds from the previous brood, whose responsibilities include helping older relatives. Their turn to breed comes when a vacancy opens in a neighboring flock. Thus, nature wisely provided for the exclusion of mutations during inbreeding. 
By the way, ladies are insidious by nature: if they discover a clutch to which the female has no relation, the bird will ruin it and destroy the contents. 
While the younger generation is watching the even younger generation, the old people, as they should be, are shopping and stocking up. In a very original way, an insane amount of acorns are mined and stored (hence the name). Oak fruits are the basis of the woodpeckers’ diet. And they gouge very carefully, so as not to harm the living tree, holes in the oak bark. To hide an acorn in each one.
The possibility of spring reproduction depends on acorns (at other times, woodpeckers feed on fruits, flowers and insects, in particular ants). Therefore, quality and volume must be taken as seriously as possible. 
The tree chosen as a refrigerator cabinet can have up to 50 thousand holes, hollowed out by hardworking birds. If there is no alternative, other tree species, houses, barns and more can be used instead of oaks.
In California, a case was recorded when woodpeckers hid about 130 kilograms of acorns in a cellular communication amplifier. It is clear that under such a load it stopped working. After cleaning, the repeater started working, and the acorns lost their supplies. However, they chose the same pantry for themselves: in such conditions, acorns instantly become moldy and spoil.
Lazy guys can use ready-made blanks, since it takes up to 20 minutes to hollow out one hole. But still, the majority of woodpeckers are hardworking and are a true instrument of horror for trypophobes, creating an intricate, holey canvas of nightmares. However, for birds this is just a way to survive, so we can only applaud this small but very practical thrifty bird.
