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Tragedies produce opportunity among the Acorn Woodpeckers here in California’s Camel Valley. The second of two breeding females in this particular communal group has been killed, probably by the birds of prey that kill one in five of the acorn woodpeckers every year. To understand where the opportunity comes in, it helps to know how a communal group of acorn woodpeckers works. They don’t just win it. Acorn woodpecker what scientist call cooperative breeders. This group includes co-breeder males, like this farther and son who share the job of farther and offspring. These two sisters of the clans joint-nesting breeding females who share the job of producing the chicks. The others in the group are non-breeding helpers of both sexes who collect acorns and help out in general.

In this group, both joint-nesting females have died. So these highly prized positions in the group are up for grabs. That’s where the opportunity comes in. But the now deceased females have left behind two newly-hatched checks. What would come to them? Competitors for the coverted chance to live your ranks as helper and become a breeder arrive from all over. And once they arrive, their cooperation turns to conflict as they fight for the role. The winners who are pared sisters, former helpers from another group nearby. The first thing they do is, kill the babies of the previous breeders. Somehow, the group accepts this without a squawk. New group, new order.