Abstract

The goal of the suburban woodpecker project is to assess the causes of woodpecker damage to homes, and to test the effectiveness of different bird deterrents in reducing this damage.

Issue

Woodpeckers can be wildlife pests when they assault human dwellings by hammering on metal roofs and chiseling holes in wooden siding. Many aggravated homeowners contact the extension office or the Lab of Ornithology seeking answers to why this is happening, and what they can do to prevent it. This project seeks to discover the underlying biological reasons for woodpecker attacks and to devise some useful solutions to the problem.

Response

We surveyed approximately 1,500 homes in several Ithaca neighborhoods for evidence of woodpecker damage. Approximately 25 percent of homes in wooded neighborhoods such as Cayuga Heights sustained some type of damage. We found that certain types of siding, such as board and batten, were more susceptible to woodpecker activity than others because they contain crevices for certain wood-dwelling insects. Woodpecker damage also increased as a function of the amount of wooded area surrounding the house and neighborhood, presumably because these areas contain higher densities of woodpeckers. We are also conducting controlled experimental tests of the effectiveness of various bird deterrents using homes with ongoing woodpecker damage that we identified during the surveys. Deterrents include netting, foil strips, models of predators, broadcasting of alarm calls, directed application of insecticides, provisioning of suet feeders, and installation of alternative artificial roosting and drumming structures. These results are currently being analyzed.

Impact

We have identified most of the common causes of woodpecker damage to homes, and have already offered homeowners some initial suggestions for removing the source of attraction and deterring the birds via our publications and Lab of Ornithology website. Once the results of the deterrent tests have been completely analyzed, we will also be able to inform homeowners of the effectiveness of the common commercially available deterrents.

Funding Sources

• Federal Formula Funds - Research (e.g., Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, Animal Health)
• Private (e.g., commodity groups, foundations, companies)

Collaborators

• Department of Natural Resources and CCE at Cornell University

Key Personnel

• Dr. Paul Curtis, Extension Wildlife Specialist and Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University