Why Woodpeckers Peck And How To Prevent It?

Introduction

Woodpeckers are fascinating birds, particularly the acorn woodpecker, known for their pecking at trees and other wooden surfaces. Songbirds sing out to advertise their territories, and woodpeckers drum on hard surfaces, such as wood, to make intentions known to other ones and to entice mates. Some of their species drum so fast they can beat up to 16 times a second, generating some 8,000 knocks a day.

It's common to find woodpeckers - northern flickers, in particular - where they tap upon the metal gutters or chimneys for greater noise generation. However, when they begin to peck at houses, they can cause damage and distress. Sounds like this can become infuriating in the morning when homeowners wake up wondering if this is another continuation of such behavior.

This article will explore the habits of woodpeckers and their potential impact on homes, and provide effective deterrent and prevention measures. Although this behavior is typically seasonal, some things can be done to mitigate the damage.

Why Is Woodpecker Pecking On Gutters?

Woodpeckers peck loudly on gutters for the same reasons they drum on trees: to communicate with others to ounce their territory or attract a mate. While they primarily choose dry, dead tree limbs with good echoing properties, they may find artificial structures such as gutters, metal pipes, and chimneys produce even louder sounds to facilitate their communication.

This is why a male red-bellied woodpecker may hammer on your gutter early in the morning; it's a wonderful time for them to do their "drumming solos." As drumming aims to attract a mate or defend territory for them, it is most likely to occur during the breeding season, when the drive is most intense.

Why Woodpeckers Peck Trees?

The woodpeckers do not peck on trees just for talking but also in search of food and hunting for nesting cavities. Some of these birds, like the pileated woodpecker, are said to target certain trees that are infested with carpenter ants.

The huge woodpeckers remove large chunks of the tree trunk to access the inside of the tree where the ant colonies live. Interestingly, they are not likely to cause damage to healthy trees. The dead or dying trees are where the insects find a home.

Woodpecker Behavior

One of the important things about these birds is their drumming behavior, which has several key roles to play in their daily activities. They will use everything they require to peek at food and converse with their mates. Woodpeckers peck at surfaces for various reasons:

Searching For Food:

Woodpeckers primarily feed on insects and pests, especially those found within wood. Their pointed beaks allow them to delve into trees to find food. They are good foragers; they find a way to bore into the bark of trees to feast on the insects living inside the wood. Their strong beaks are designed to withstand the impact of successive pecks while searching for larvae and beetles deep in the wood.

Territorial Marking:

These birds are pecking to establish territory. A woodpecker uses its cacophonous drumming to mark its territory and threaten rival contenders. By pecking on sound-radiating surfaces, such as dead tree trunks or even metal objects, the pecking sound radiates all over. That loud noise is an obvious signal to other ones that they should not invade the area claimed by another, especially during breeding season.

Storing Food:

They create holes in wood to store acorns or other food for winter use. These woodpeckers store their food in trees and make perfect winter preparations. They make minute holes into the bark, carefully putting one acorn, nut, or seed in each hole. Such storage places, sometimes called granaries, help survive them from the cold winter months when very little food is available.

Building Nests:

In spring and summer, woodpeckers peck at trees or wooden structures to create nesting sites. They are cavity-nesting birds that dig into parts of a tree to create a safe and cozy nesting place for their chicks. A dead tree with stinking sections of wood is a usual spot for such nesting cavities since predators cannot easily see the trees from a strategic position.

Communication:

Woodpeckers use pecking to make sounds, communicate with other woodpeckers, mark territory, or attract mates. What they do not merely peck for some reason isn't so much of a purpose but a language themselves. Their pecking sounds are not only loud but also serve to convey information. The rhythm and level of their drumming signify them as being interested in that mate or trying to defend territory from intruders.

Identifying Woodpecker Species

Different woodpecker species have their own habits and habitat preferences; understanding these can help you take appropriate measures. Common woodpecker species include:

Northern Flicker:

This woodpecker is characterized by its spotted back and is often found in open forests and urban environments. Its species is unique because it is often forced onto the forest floor to forage for ants and beetles. A brown body with black spots and yellow or red tail feathers among woodpeckers characterizes this species.

Red-bellied Woodpecker:

Common in the eastern and central regions, it gets its name from its distinctive red belly. While the belly may be hard to spot, this woodpecker has a distinctive red cap and black-and-white zebra-like patterned back. It occurs in wooded and urban areas such as parks and residential areas, sifting through tree bark and other possible sources with its long beak to find its meal of insects and nuts.

Pileated Woodpecker:

Larger in size, this woodpecker frequently pecks at trees and primarily feeds on insects within the wood. The pileated woodpecker is one of the largest woodpeckers, specifically the largest in North America. With its color - mostly black body and red crest - it is a powerful driller that often produces large rectangular holes in a tree in search of carpenter ants, etc.

Temporary Solutions

If woodpeckers visit your home, you must stop the immediate damage they cause. Short-term measures to control these birds would be effective, provided they were undertaken together with long-term measures.

Filling And Painting:

You can fill in the holes made by woodpeckers and paint over them to reduce their attractiveness. This conceals the former pecking sites from them, making the area less attractive and protecting your home from further damage.

Attracting Woodpeckers Elsewhere:

People can use decoys such as fake owls or snakes. Placing decoys in your yard or around your home can make woodpeckers believe predators are nearby.

Hanging Reflective Objects:

Suspend reflective items like streamers or reflective balloons. These birds are terrified of bright, flashing lights, so hanging shiny objects that blow in the wind can serve as a short-term deterrent.

Long-Term Preventive Measures

For a long-term solution, applying long-term prevention measures will not allow woodpeckers to make any return visits to your home.

Material Protection:

Cover vulnerable surfaces with metal or canvas. By protecting pecking areas with protective barriers, you can prevent damage.

Installing Bird Deterrents:

Use specialized products like Bird-X's Irri-Tape. These tapes produce unpleasant noise and visual interference despised by woodpeckers.

Reducing Sound Resonance:

Wrap metal surfaces with foam or plastic pads to diminish echoes. Most birds will respond to the din created by beating metal sounds and will be attracted to drumming and banging around metal objects.

Preventive Measures

Woodpeckers can cause extensive damage to houses if not checked in time. However, there are several preventive measures that the homeowner can take to protect their property.

Repair And Protection

·       Fix Holes:

Promptly repair any holes in your house and paint over them to prevent woodpeckers from returning. When they start making holes within wooden structures, these regions become hotspots for further pecking. Quickly filling holes with wood filler and painting over them protects the structure from additional damage and makes the area unappealing to more pecking.

·       Use Protective Materials:

Cover vulnerable areas with metal or canvas to deter woodpeckers from pecking. These birds are less likely to peck hard, non-wood products. Installing metal or canvas over areas where they often peck on your home—such as siding, roof overhangs, or eaves—means that such woodpeckers will fail to gain access to the area. Such materials also make the noise of pecking less than before; therefore, they won't keep banging.

Visual And Auditory Deterrents

·       Hang Reflective Objects:

Suspend reflective balloons or strips of aluminum foil in areas where woodpeckers are active to disrupt their vision. The flash of light caused by the reflective nature of balloons or aluminum foil frightens them. With the help of the wind, these shiny objects dance erratically, thus obscuring their view into a particular location. Installing these deterrents over pecked locations makes the site unappealing to the birds.

·       Use Wind Chimes:

Hang noise-making objects to create an unsettling environment that scares away woodpeckers. Wind chimes, bells, and other loud devices can freely produce sounds that terrorize a woodpecker. Its inconsistency prevents the bird from stabilizing itself and leaving in pursuit of a quieter area.

·       Ultrasonic Deterrents:

Consider purchasing ultrasonic deterrents that use high-frequency sound waves to disrupt woodpecker activity. Ultrasonic repellents are sounds beyond human hearing range, but to woodpeckers, they are uncomfortable. They can be regarded as one of the best ways of stopping them from returning to your house, especially if they are familiar with the place. Ensure you place the device where most pecking occurs to increase effectiveness.

Providing Alternative Habitats

·       Install Nesting Boxes:

Set up woodpecker nesting boxes in your garden or yard to attract them away from your house. This will divert the birds away from your house, as you will provide an alternative nesting place to minimize their focus on your home. The nesting boxes will offer the woodpeckers a safe location to nest without causing damage to your property. Place these boxes in trees or on posts, preferably in a shaded, quiet corner.

Using Deterrent Products

·       Commercial Deterrents:

Consider using plant-based deterrents, although effectiveness may vary by environment. Some plant-based sprays and gels are available on the market to deter these birds. It works through an ingredient that can repel the bird from wood. The effectiveness may depend upon the right environment and their species. Spray repellents on vulnerable surfaces of the house and watch for any change in their behavior.

Case Studies

Issues associated with woodpeckers require solutions aimed at specific behaviors and environments. Here are a few case studies showing effective deterrent strategies for the homeowners' most common problems with them.

Case Study 1: Garage Decorations

Problem:

For many homeowners, woodpeckers are just attracted to garages unless the garage has wooden structures or some form of decoration on its walls that they find appealing to peck on. It can be infuriating and unbearable to be disturbed by the noise when one intends to keep these garages for storage or as a workshop.

Solution:

Utilize metal sheeting or streamers as deterrents. Metal sheeting attached to wooden garage doors or walls, among other applications, tends to deter them from pecking on it. Their pecking is somewhat restrained by the fact that they find a challenging surface to peck on and, therefore, less likely to get damaged. In addition, you can dangle brightly colored streamers or reflective tape to blur the vision line and stop them from getting close to the spot. Woodpeckers have an unpleasant view of the streamers and shiny faces through their movements.

Case Study 2: Metal Chimneys And Gutters

Problem:

Metal chimneys and gutters become an important target area for a woodpecker since loud sounds are resonant and amplify the drumming. Many house owners experience loud drumming by early morning, hence annoyance and damage to these structures.

Solution:

Wrap with flexible materials to reduce sound. By using foam padding or flexible plastic sheeting and wrapping chimneys and gutters, you will likely reduce the echo that the woodpeckers create by drumming on these surfaces. The insulation acts as a gentle absorber of the sound; thus, it is unfavorable for them to peck at them. Besides noise deduction, this solution ensures protection from repetitive damage by pecking, giving the chimney and gutters a longer life span.

Case Study 3: Pecking On Windows

Problem:

Woodpeckers tend to peck on windows, usually mistaking themselves for another bird. This activity may always prove annoying and, in turn, cause repeated pecking, potentially damaging the window and a noisy environment.

Solution:

Hang aluminum foil or foil balloons as bird deterrents. Assuming pieces of aluminum foil or balloons suspended around windows allow homeowners to discourage them from approaching, the shiny surface of aluminum foil reflects light. It creates movement, confusing the woodpecker into thinking that the window is another bird.

Conclusion

Every homeowner must understand the reason behind woodpeckers' pecking and prevent it. These birds are elegant, but their pecking makes nuisance noises and damages properties. By taking such precautions, you can enjoy their beauty while minimizing their effects on living space.