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Post subject: A Question For Bird Lovers
 Posted: Sep 25, 2008 - 10:24 PM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 3529
Location: New Jersey USA
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Last Saturday morning I woke up to an annoying tapping, and couldn't find the source. Monday, it was happening again. This is what I found:
The little b****** woodpecker had made a hole in one of the front columns of the house. Ok, I can deal with it, since it's already there, I thought I'd let him stay the winter. It could be interesting to see him over time out the dining room window.
Well, now he's started on two other columns of the house. I mean how many homes does this guy need? Doesn't he remember that he already has a home built? (Reminds me of someone somehow  )
Anyway, any suggestions about how to get him to stop before the front of my house starts looking like swiss cheese? And is there any downside to letting him stay the winter? I can fix the damage done next spring after he's out, but I'm not going to let a bird destroy my home.
Any suggestions or advice? |
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Speaking as an enourmously unlikable person, I find it difficult to maintain grudges against all those that want to kill me, don't you? - Alan Shore
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Decker-Unit |
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Post subject: woody
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 - 10:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 24, 2006
Posts: 46
Status: Offline
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I had one banging on the side of my house once, on a saturday morning no less while trying to sleep. Id bang on the wall and it would fly away and then come right back. It left after about half hour.
From what i understand they can hear bugs inside the wood and thats what they are digging for. I dont know anything about their nesting habbits. But If I were you Id find a way to set off an M80 in the hole while its in there. Just for kicks. And film it.
ive had enought trouble with squirrels in my attic because my neighbors refused to cover the hole where they were getting in on that side of the building. Cripes!
they will always find another place to live. |
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Firey the angels rose, and as they rose deep thunder rolled, around thier shores, indignant, burning with the Fires of Orc.
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 - 11:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 3529
Location: New Jersey USA
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The M80 idea really did make me LOL, but I want to plug the hole in the spring, not rebuild the entire column....
Would make a great video on YouTube though. |
_________________
Speaking as an enourmously unlikable person, I find it difficult to maintain grudges against all those that want to kill me, don't you? - Alan Shore
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 12:17 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 5682
Location: Corn country in Illinois
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I hope you don't have termites which is what that woodpecker may be looking for...
 
you may want to get some hardware cloth from the hardware store and put it around the tops of the collums for a few weeks to discourage the drilling. After they've migrated then remove it.
Then get a suet feeder and some beef suet place them close to the house if possible and maybe the little drummer would be fed that way for a while.
Hope this helps.
DianaG
PS. If you can get a pic of the little guy I can tell you where he is from and if they migrate and what kind he is. |
_________________
LT. Star Fleet Ship's Chaplain/Councelor, USSBlackhawk
"Jesus said to her I am the Resurrection and the Life ..." John 11:25
"O Death where is thy sting?.... the Victory is thru Jesus Christ." I Cor. 15:54-56
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 01:08 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 3529
Location: New Jersey USA
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Little B****** looks just like this:
Oh, and BTW, we've officially named him "little b******".  |
_________________
Speaking as an enourmously unlikable person, I find it difficult to maintain grudges against all those that want to kill me, don't you? - Alan Shore
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 02:25 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 5682
Location: Corn country in Illinois
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AH!!!
A Downy Woodpecker!!!!
Small little bird about 6 inches long...2 species, native to the East and North east.. but seen all acrost the US Woodlands..prolific hole driller for it's size (As CaptJTK has found out unfortunatly), lives in wooded areas and mostly likes dead trees and med to high brushy areas.
eats grubs, insects and some seeds in it's native habitat...Which is where you live....  If it's habitat is disturbed or food is scare it WILL look for food elsewhere, which unfortunaly is Steve's house, where it will look for food or make a new home that it find sutible for it's needs.
I will try to find out more stuff about this little guy and see what kinds of deterrents you can use.
Dianag |
_________________
LT. Star Fleet Ship's Chaplain/Councelor, USSBlackhawk
"Jesus said to her I am the Resurrection and the Life ..." John 11:25
"O Death where is thy sting?.... the Victory is thru Jesus Christ." I Cor. 15:54-56
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 02:37 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 5682
Location: Corn country in Illinois
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Here is a website on the little guy,
http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species_pho ... pecker.htm
Havent found any way to keep him away from your house, except to put out a suet feeder with seeds on it.
DianaG |
_________________
LT. Star Fleet Ship's Chaplain/Councelor, USSBlackhawk
"Jesus said to her I am the Resurrection and the Life ..." John 11:25
"O Death where is thy sting?.... the Victory is thru Jesus Christ." I Cor. 15:54-56
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 02:49 AM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 3529
Location: New Jersey USA
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I'm calling Terminex tomorrow for a termite inspection, just in case. They were out here a few years back, and the house was fine, but I gotta wonder now that I've read some of the replys.
Like I said, I don't mind if he wants to move in for the winter, I just don't want the house destroyed. |
_________________
Speaking as an enourmously unlikable person, I find it difficult to maintain grudges against all those that want to kill me, don't you? - Alan Shore
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 03:33 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 8173
Location: CA
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If he's anything like the Flicker..a sacred bird to California Natives...he will continue to peck...even inside his home...so I would wire over the holes, letting him have one, if you want to risk it. What is on the backside of the column ?...and is it hollow ?
There is one device, used for gophers and Deer, but it doesn't work for them...but a THUMPER or GO-PHER-IT which emits a thumping sound, in the hole, will make him think it is occupado...and move on...MAYBE...
They are MORE stubborn than a Mule...and Not as bright either....
I shouldn't be, but I'm giggling...because I have one of my own
and he is one stubborn, wacky tripster...
FLICKER PICS AND INFO
He goes Wik A...Wik A to me all the time.... |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 12:14 PM
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Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 5199
Location: standing here shaking my head in disbelief....
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We've had woodpeckers attempting to make a home at our place as well. I'd sure second putting up some mesh around vulnerable areas. They didn't seem to want to limit themselves to one area. And then of course the squirrels decided to try and take advantage of the holes that the birds started. We've pretty much got mesh around the entire back part of our house......  |
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When you try to make others look small, you only show how truly tiny your own spirit is.
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Debb |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 26, 2008 - 03:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 04, 2003
Posts: 3282
Location: 45°28' N 73°45' W
Status: Offline
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Woodpeckers are destroying the small forest (just over 1 acre) next to our house. However, the stripped down trees are now roosting places for the northern Saw-whet owl.
Who (excuse the pun) likes to fish the goldfish from our newly built garden pond.
Every night, my husband and I sit out and gaze at our night lit pond and waterfall and every night we have visitors from the woods. aka squirrels, skunks, cats, etc. all drink from this non-clorified water source.
If you build it... they will come.
I suggest placing som owl statues (plastic will do) on the perimeter of your roof... that will scare off the pigeons and other smaller birds as owls will prey on smaller birds as well.
It works for the gas stations. |
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