Laura Woodall, age 10, of Richmond, Va., for her question:     

DOES A WOODPECKER GET A HEADACHE?

When you hear the woodpecker hammering away with his bill on a hard tree trunk, it is logical to assume that he can expect a thumping headache. However, this does not happen because the busy bird is specially designed for this sort of work. In fact, he makes his living by jabbing his beak into sturdy logs and trunks. His beak is shaped somewhat like a chisel, and he uses it to dig for grubs and bugs that live under the bark or in the wood. Then he flicks out a long sticky tongue and devours them.

The woodpecker's beak is very strong. What's more, the bones of his skull are reinforced to add extra strength. This is what cushions the blows when he hammers with all his might.    So the busy bird is not likely to get a headache.