[TN-Bird] woodpeckers pecking where you don't want them to
- From: Viclcsw@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:53:14 EST
Yesterday, I looked out the window to see a downy woodpecker on my
bluebird/chickadee nestbox, the probable "culprit" who has added a couple of
new
holes in the box this fall. Didn't change my love for downies--they remain
high on my list of favorite birds. Seconds later, I watched a pair of
chickadees dive-bomb the downy several times and he decided to leave. I
suspect this to be the pair of chickadees that successfully nested in the box
last season.
Below is some information I just recieved from the Birdwatcher's Digest
newsletter, that I thought others might find helpful as well. The first
option was the most helpful for this problem. I won't be using a fake snake
or
scare tactics!
Vickie Henderson
Knoxville, TN
Knox county
Q: I have a woodpecker that is pecking holes in my house siding. Is there
anything I can do to get him to stop?
A: A woodpecker drilling on your wooden house is only doing what comes
naturally to itâ??drilling into wood in search of shelter or food. Most
house-wrecking woodpeckers do their damage in the fall, which is when they
begin
making their winter roost holes. Try mounting a nest box with an
appropriately sized hole over the drilled area. Fill the box with woodchips,
and you
may divert the bird's attention and gain a tenant. In spring, woodpeckers
also use wood and sometimes metal parts of houses as drumming sites to announce
their territory and attract a mate. There are several things you can try:
â?¢ Place some sheet metal or heavy aluminum foil over the area the bird is
using.
â?¢ Hang some aluminum pie plates around the affected area. Make sure they
move in the wind, to scare the bird.
â?¢ Place a rubber snake near the drilling area.
â?¢ Repeatedly scare the bird when it lands on your house.
â?¢ If nothing else works, call your local wildlife official, who may come
to your house to remove the offending bird.
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