Schwab's research, published in the 'British Journal of Ophthalmology,' helped explain how woodpeckers protect their brains and eyes during these repeated impacts. His work later earned him an Ig Nobel Prize.
A question inspired by head injuries
Schwab said his interest in the subject came from treating people with head injuries.
He said, "If you get hit hard in the head, you can break blood vessels behind the eye or traumatize nerves behind eye," adding, "Seeing patients in car accidents and knowing what woodpeckers do made me wonder why these injuries don't happen in woodpeckers," as quoted by Livescience.
How woodpeckers protect their brains while pecking trees
According to the research, a woodpecker's body is specially adapted to reduce the force of each strike.
About one millisecond before its bill hits a tree, dense neck muscles contract. Some of the impact is absorbed through these muscles, reducing the force reaching the skull. A compressible bone in the skull also helps cushion the blow.
The bird's thick inner eyelid closes just before impact. It protects the eye from flying wood fragments and helps keep the eyeball firmly in place.
Schwab said, "The eyelid acts like a seat belt and keeps the eye from literally popping out of the head," adding, "Otherwise, acceleration would tear the retina," as quoted by Livescience.
The outer part of the eye is also firm and filled with blood, helping support the retina during repeated impacts.
Why woodpeckers don't suffer brain damage from constant pecking
Unlike humans, woodpeckers have very little cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain. In people, the brain can move within this fluid during a head injury, but woodpeckers' brains remain much more rigid during repeated pecking.
Schwab said scientists cannot be certain that woodpeckers never get headaches, but noted that the birds appear to be highly tolerant of repeated impacts.
During courtship, male woodpeckers may drum on trees up to 12,000 times a day.
