If you look very closely, you may note a hole in the decorative wood tiles on a neighbor's house. Up toward the peak, in the darkest shade. That's why I didn't really welcome the inspection of my woodwork recently made by the cute little woodpecker below.
Here are closer views of the sort of destruction that birds can wreak. BTW, I thought maybe those small holes might contain acorns; that that doesn't appear to be the case.
The woodwork on another neighbor's house has also yielded to busy beaks. Curiously enough, that single hole is so carefully placed that I did not notice it when I first opened the picture. I guess my eyes just assumed that the hole was part of the decorative scheme. Here's a final question: I've read that acorn woodpecker colonies maintain collective nests. Do you suppose that the neat round hole is merely an entrance into a wide open attic space for several birds to develop homes? I'll have to maintain a watch.
If you look very closely, you may note a hole in the decorative wood tiles on a neighbor's house. Up toward the peak, in the darkest shade. That's why I didn't really welcome the inspection of my woodwork recently made by the cute little woodpecker below.
Here are closer views of the sort of destruction that birds can wreak. BTW, I thought maybe those small holes might contain acorns; that that doesn't appear to be the case.
The woodwork on another neighbor's house has also yielded to busy beaks. Curiously enough, that single hole is so carefully placed that I did not notice it when I first opened the picture. I guess my eyes just assumed that the hole was part of the decorative scheme. Here's a final question: I've read that acorn woodpecker colonies maintain collective nests. Do you suppose that the neat round hole is merely an entrance into a wide open attic space for several birds to develop homes? I'll have to maintain a watch.
Look at how nice and round those holes are! I don't think *I* could create a round hole that nicely without a hole-driller...
ReplyDeleteBTW, if you look very closely at pic #4, it looks like the hole might be occupied.
Great study of woodpeckeritis.
ReplyDeleteWow, makes one re-think buying and living in a wood-sided house.
ReplyDeleteBack to stucco, boring stucco. LOL
~Anon in AV.
The color scheme of the woodpecker is hard to beat: red, black, and white.
ReplyDeletethe Boonie
dotter -- beautifully round -- that's why I didn't spot the second hole at first.
ReplyDeletecat-A -- certainly could be a problem.
anon av -- no safer than those neighbor's houses which are, I believe, sided in aluminum or plastic. Note that the birds attacked the decorative trim...
boonie -- like many woodpeckers, our little acorn guys are nicely decked out.
Stucco isn't safe from woodpeckers, we had a pair of Gila woodpeckers hanging around our house last year, and they pecked right through stucco. We had a few areas of damage around a sliding glass door, but we knew that crickets were hiding in that area so I guess woodpeckers eat crickets. We had our house and yard sprayed and this year the woodpeckers were seen, but they left our house alone.
ReplyDeleteAZ -- sounds like you took drastic measures... and thanks for the warning about stucco.
ReplyDeleteThe woodpecker has the same coloring as ours. We have one that hangs around the hazel tree and ocassionally steals a hazelnut from the balcony.
ReplyDeleteWhat busy little birds! I think one would hear that pecking and maybe get out the hose to discourage them.
ReplyDeleteI think I am glad we dont have woodpeckers!!
ReplyDeleteOh dear...
ReplyDeleteBut what a beautiful bird.
Just dropping by to say "Hello". I thought you might enjoy some of the photos of Autumn Colour in Ireland on my blog.
Best regards,
M Buckley
steve -- but leaves the house alone?
ReplyDeletejarart -- one of the houses is currently empty; the other hole is in the side of the house with no windows.
tales -- he's a very colorful bird, tho I'd say that he looks like a cute little clown.
I've never heard of woodpeckers in Europe making holes in buildings, or anything other than trees. Funny how it seems to be obligatory for them to have red caps, wherever they are. I wonder what the evolutionary reason for that is?
ReplyDeletelucy -- Your woodpeckers are missing a golden opportunity for the best in housing! You're right, tis curious about woodpeckers and red -- makes one wonder what the evolutionary advantage might be.
ReplyDelete