A little social biology: Acorn woodpeckers are communal/social woodpeckers. Once a bird is born into a group, it never leaves the group. So, acorn groups are genetically very closely related. All members of a group share all duties and chores of the group. Food gathering is a co-operative effort; all members know where the caches are located and are guarded from all intruders; young are reared and cared for by all members of a group; defense of territory is also a group effort. They are very vocal. They gather in numbers and sometimes huddle together. It is a good adaptation for survival: it is a system based on reciprocity. Wish humans were as "communal" minded.
