The Oscillating Woodpecker

Sherry Bergeron at St. Mark's Episcopal Academy in Cocoa Florida did a great job making the oscilating wood pecker with her students.

Mr. Alom Shaha, a physics teacher in the U.K., has made a good video about the woodpecker project.
While you're there, check out the rest of his website, such as his physics demonstrations and projects on YouTube  and other projects he has helped create.

Why doesn't it drop or stop?

Here is yet another clever folk toy that uses science to puzzle and amaze observers. It uses it's potential energy to bob back and forth like a woodpecker. It was redesigned a bit so that even young kids can help make it. The classic version usually uses a tiny spring--as from a pen--but we simply use a rubber band for springiness.