NW guys... woodpeckers and cedar siding

[David Meiland]

I have a customer with a weekend place, it has weathered knotty cedar siding on it, and in a few spots along one side, a woodpecker has hammered some holes in the boards. This is channel siding, and he has worked on the channels rather than the thicker areas. The holes go through in a couple of places, but they are not large enough to allow access--I have seen that before, fairly large holes into the attic.

Is this a mating ritual? An insect-finding mission? Any other thoughts?

Click to Enlarge

39.17 KB

[John Kogel]

He is picking up insects, most likely. It could be those little pill bugs that nest in cracks.

I would fill the gaps with brown caulking and move on.

I have heard that woodpeckers will drum on wood to make themselves more attractive to females. That's not much different then strumming a guitar, is it?

[Steven Hockstein]

I find woodpecker holes often.

It seems that that even after you repair the holes, the woodpeckers tend to return and make new ones. I suggest that an exterminator be called-in to inspect and treat the house as required because there may be food that they are seeking.

I see fake owls, aluminum foil strips, pinwheels, and other visible devices used as an attempt to scare them away. I am not sure if they really work.

One of my clients has a small speaker that occasionally transmits bird calls of predator birds that scares the woodpeckers. It is really annoying but might be good to use during the time they are away from the house. He said it works.

[Neal Lewis]

I have heard that woodpeckers will drum on wood to make themselves more attractive to females. That's not much different then strumming a guitar, is it?

More like the beating your chest appoach, I would say.

[Jerry Lozier]

Some woodpeckers like shiny stuff to pass the time when they are not digging for bugs, like stainless steel chimneys and the brass plates some folks put on bottom of doors. Amazing amount of noise at sunrise that can be successfully nullified immediately after racking the action of your 870. (So I'm told)

[Bill Kibbel]

The pecker is focusing on the channels because it "sounds" like hollow spots in a tree. Hollow spots is where they find bugs.

[John Dirks Jr]

There's a ghost in the round window.

[John Kogel]

There's a ghost in the round window.

Well spotted, John!

Here's a revelation about birds. They have personalities. We say 'they'll be back, and they'll do this", but it is just that one bird and his immediate family. If he dies, chances are "they" won't be back. Just saying. []

[Jim Katen]

After carefully observing the flickers in my yard, I've come to the conclusion that they sometimes just drill holes in things for the hell of it. Kind of like some dogs who just dig holes for the hell of it. Humans aren't the only obsessive-compulsive critters out there.