Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Acorn Woodpeckers store food in holes. These holes are often about the size you'd ex-
pect and, sure enough, often contain an incriminating acorn. Fortunately for all of us,
they are far more likely to do this to trees than houses.
WOODPECKER DAMAGE STUDY
A 2007 Cornell Lab of Ornithology study surveyed 1,400 homes in the area around
Ithaca, New York, to learn which ones were most enticing to woodpeckers. It also tested
six common long-term deterrents to see how effectively each prevented woodpecker
damage.
The study affirmed that damage was most likely on homes infested with ants or car-
penter bees. It also found that homes with vinyl or aluminum siding, or painted in light
colors, were less likely to be attacked than houses with stained wood siding or siding
painted a dark color.
If your house attracts woodpeckers, what do you do about it? The study tested deter-
rents intended to scare away the woodpeckers, such as life-sized plastic owls with paper
wings, reflective streamers, plastic eyes strung on fishing line, and a broadcast system
thatplayedwoodpeckerdistresscallsandhawkcalls.Thestudyalsoprovidedalternatives
forthewoodpeckers,suchasready-maderoostboxesandsuetfeeders.Theonlydeterrent
that worked consistently was the plastic streamers, but even they stopped the damage at
only 50 percent of the houses.
At least half of the time, addressing woodpecker issues involves more than just trying
to scare them away. The Cornell Lab has a great resource to help you identify what
the woodpeckers are doing and then find an effective solution. Look for Woodpeckers:
Damage, Prevention and Control at
www.birds. cornell.edu/wp_about.
Suggestions in-
clude using wood putty to fill nest and roost holes as soon as they appear and then dis-
couraging woodpeckers from reappearing by covering the area with burlap for a few
weeks. Burlap will also discourage drumming, since it dulls the sound.
The problem with insect-infested wood is more difficult, because woodpeckers will
continue to come as long as your house harbors food for them. So you have to first get
