Woodpeckers are one of the most beautiful birds to watch. Even a popular cartoon character (the humorous Woody Woodpecker) was created from this colorful group of birds. However, woodpeckers can be seen as a nuisance when they begin to peck at buildings or wooden-based structures such as our homes. If woodpecker damage is allowed to continue, permanent structural damage can eventually set in. There are 3 primary reasons why woodpeckers peck on buildings.

The most common reason for woodpeckers pecking on buildings is a phenomenon called 'drumming'. Drumming is a territorial act that warns other woodpeckers that this is this bird's territory. It is also used to attract mates. Drumming is most common during the spring in the early morning and late afternoon hours. It usually ends by mid summer.

Another reason for building woodpecker damage is den creation. Woodpeckers are cavity nesters that excavate their own cavities. They prefer dead or dying trees to excavate their nesting cavities. With the growth of populated regions, the availability of dead or dying trees has declined significantly and has forced the woodpeckers to find suitable alternatives such as your home.

A third, and less common reason for woodpeckers damage your home is their search for insects. Insects seldom infest well-seasoned wood, but woodpeckers hammer holes to obtain insects primarily after new home construction.

If woodpecker damage is suspected, visual repellents can be use. One effective visual repellent is the Scare Eye Balloon, a large round balloon that when blown up has large eyes which resemble the eyes of a woodpecker predator – the owl. Other visual repellents include image enlarging mirrors and Hawk silhouette mobiles.

Through the use of visual repellents and other means, you can control the woodpecker damage to your home and continue to enjoy them in their natural habitat.