Woodpeckers, with their distinctive drumming and striking appearance, are a common sight in many wooded areas and even suburban landscapes. While their behavior can be fascinating to observe, it can quickly become a concern when their pecking turns towards your home. Understanding why woodpeckers peck wood is the first step in addressing and preventing potential damage to your property.
Reasons Behind Woodpecker Pecking
Woodpeckers peck wood for a variety of reasons, most of which are related to their survival and natural instincts. These reasons can be broadly categorized into: foraging for food, creating nesting sites, and territorial communication.
1. Searching for Food: An Insectivorous Diet
A primary reason woodpeckers peck wood is to find food. Their diet mainly consists of insects, and they are particularly adept at locating and extracting wood-boring insects. They have a strong preference for beetles, ants, caterpillars, and various larvae that may be living beneath the bark or within the wood itself.
If you notice small, irregular holes in your wooden structures, it’s highly likely that woodpeckers are foraging for insects. They are especially fond of carpenter bee larvae, leafcutter bees, and grass bagworms, which can unfortunately be found in wooden siding, fences, and other parts of buildings.
2. Excavating Nesting Cavities: Creating a Home
Woodpeckers are cavity nesters, meaning they create holes in trees to build their nests. Both male and female woodpeckers participate in excavating these cavities, typically in dead limbs or trees. They may also choose wooden structures like fences, utility poles, and signposts as nesting sites.
These nesting cavities are usually located at a height of 12-30 feet above the ground. Interestingly, the entrance to a woodpecker nest is often camouflaged by fungus or lichen, providing natural concealment from predators. If woodpeckers are creating larger, more rounded holes, they might be preparing a nesting site.
3. Territorial Drumming: Communication and Mate Attraction
Woodpeckers also peck wood as a form of communication, often referred to as “drumming.” This behavior is primarily used to establish and defend their territory and to attract a mate. The loud, resonant sound produced by drumming on wood serves as an auditory signal to other woodpeckers.
This territorial drumming is most common in the spring, during breeding season. Woodpeckers will seek out resonant surfaces, which can unfortunately include the siding of houses, metal gutters, or even air conditioners, to amplify their drumming sounds. If the pecking is rhythmic and loud, especially during springtime, it’s likely territorial drumming.
Preventing Woodpecker Damage to Your Property
Woodpeckers are persistent birds, and once they’ve chosen a pecking site, it can be challenging to deter them. Therefore, early intervention is key. Woodpecker prevention strategies primarily involve physical barriers and scare tactics.
1. Physical Barriers: Blocking Access
Creating physical barriers is an effective way to prevent woodpeckers from accessing pecking sites. Steel mesh or netting can be installed over areas where woodpeckers are pecking, physically preventing them from reaching the wood surface. This is particularly useful for protecting siding, eaves, or other vulnerable areas of your home.
2. Visual Deterrents: Scaring Them Away
Woodpeckers are often deterred by shiny, reflective objects and movement. Hanging strips of aluminum foil, reflective tape, or pinwheels near pecking sites can create visual disturbances that discourage woodpeckers from approaching. These visual deterrents work by startling or confusing the birds, making the area less appealing.
3. Noise Scare Tactics: Auditory Repellents
In some situations, noise can be an effective deterrent. Sudden loud noises can scare woodpeckers away from pecking sites. However, noise tactics may be less reliable in the long term as woodpeckers can become habituated to sounds over time. Using noise deterrents in conjunction with other methods can increase their effectiveness.
Seeking Professional Assistance
It’s important to remember that woodpeckers are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This means it is illegal to intentionally harm, capture, or kill woodpeckers, or disrupt their nests and eggs. Therefore, humane and legal methods of prevention are essential.
If you are struggling with woodpecker damage and need assistance, it is advisable to seek help from wildlife control professionals who have experience in dealing with woodpeckers. They can offer tailored solutions and ensure that all actions taken are legal and ethical.
While woodpeckers can sometimes cause frustration with their pecking habits, understanding their motivations and implementing appropriate prevention strategies can help protect your property while coexisting with these fascinating birds.
