Your Roof vs. Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers. We are always getting calls from people at odds with these red-headed, iron-beaked masters of percussion. You'll often see the damage done to a house's fascia boards or wooden shake style shingles. Sometimes, they will even try to hammer into the metal flashing around chimneys. For the most part, these birds are just hungry. Small, superficial holes are made in the search for carpenter bees or other tiny insects. Sometimes, they are attempting to make a cavity in which to nest. During this process, several dents might be created until they realize that your home is not a suitable home for them.

Your Roof vs. Woodpeckers: Repellants

Of all woodland birds, woodpeckers are known to be among the most territorial. Their knack for drumming can simply be to make a lot of racket to attract the attention of a potential mate or let other woodpeckers know that they have claimed a certain territory. The best way to repel them is to put a small, magnifying handheld mirror where the damage occurs. If a woodpecker sees such a large advisory, he will think twice about approaching your roof. The brave ones will fight their own reflection until they get tired and leave.

Other homeowners have had luck with tying aluminum pie pans, pinwheels, or flags to the compromised area. Any free flowing object will intimidate the culprit at hand. Rural New York is an ideal habitat for woodpeckers, and woodpecker damaged homes. With the proper measures, you can keep them busy making noise in the forest, and far from your fascia boards.

Try some of these do-it-at-home repellents before you give us a call. However, if woodpeckers have already damaged your home, schedule a FREE ESTIMATE we'd be glad to repair it. This has been a PSA from Klaus Larsen Roofing of Hudson Valley.  

Your Roof vs. Woodpeckers: Interesting Facts

• If you really can't stand the sound of woodpeckers, then buy a house in Australia. No native species of woodpecker exist there.

• Not all woodpeckers are red, black, and white. Some closely resemble exotic parrots, with gold and yellow feathers.

• A woodpecker's tongue can be as long as 4 inches.
  
• One of the largest Northern American variants was the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. Evidence of its present existence has been inconclusive, making it the 'Bigfoot of the bird -watching community.' Many unconfirmed sightings are believed to be the common pileated woodpecker.

• Woodpeckers can peck up to a total of 12,000 pecks per day. That's 20 pecks per second. This is not at all painful to the animal, as their brain is protected from trauma by air pockets in the skull.

• They can live an average of 4 to 11 years.

• Woodpeckers get married. Once a mate is found, they are monogamous for life. 
  

• The idea for Woody the Woodpecker came from storyboard artist Walter Lantz, while on his honeymoon at a cabin in Sherwood Lake, California. A raucous acorn woodpecker put a damper on the event by keeping the newlyweds awake all night with its constant drumming. Once it started raining, they learned it had bored hole's in the roof of the cabin. Evidently, Walter wanted to 'shoot the thing,'; however, his wife Gracie suggested that he make a cartoon about the bird.