When “bird problems” come to mind, most homeowners might think of nests in the rafters, or fruit thieves, but when it comes to woodpeckers your troubles might be more than surface-deep!
Are Woodpeckers Damaging Your Home?
The photos below show what could well be woodpecker damage on the eaves of a home in the foothills (click to enlarge either one):
When I spotted these a while back, I immediately suspected woodpeckers. When nesting, they’ll drill into a weak spot or a smaller hole in a tree to enlarge it. Here, they’ve attacked the gaps between boards and widened along that direction. A number of years ago at our house, we got to watch a woodpecker widen the door of an old birdhouse which originally had an opening sized for bluebirds. And they won’t stick to wood surfaces, woodpeckers have been known to damage stucco, too!
There are many reasons for woodpeckers to drum on your house, or your fence, or the trees in your yard, and the holes won’t always be as large as the ones shown here. After reading about the different types of holes these birds might drill out, I learned that larger holes like the ones in the photo above could be nesting holes, or something potentially worse.
One common reason for woodpeckers pecking is hunting for food, and if they’re hunting for bugs in your home, that could indicate a much bigger problem! Large, labor-intensive excavations like the ones in the photo above could be indicative of widespread infestations. Unfortunately, that may have been the case here as the home was known to have termites, and fumigation was recommended.
If birds are nesting in your walls or eaves, and you’re sure there are no termites, ants, or beetles in the structure, there may be other sources of food nearby that are attracting them. At the home in the case above, a few feet below these eaves was a picture window with a bird-feeder.
What Should You Do?
First, don’t ignore it! Birds pecking at your home can be dangerous for both you and the birds, especially if they hit plumbing or electrical systems.
If there’s a chance they might be going after bugs in the structure, it might be time to get a pest inspection.
Even if there are no active birds or bugs attacking your home and the damage is older, any existing holes and damage should be corrected. Larger holes can be access points for other unwanted critters, like squirrels, rats, or birds. Even small holes can let in insects, and put the home at greater risk to water infiltration, which can lead to mold and other damage. These openings can even increase risk during a fire, allowing embers into less fire-hardy areas of the building.
Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice your birdwatching to protect your home, and there are many ways to safely encourage birds in your yard without damaging your home. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors suggests a number of exclusion and preventative measures, including placing appropriate nesting boxes on your property, or painting instead of staining wood exteriors. Metal flashing can be installed at wood end-rafters to encourage birds to find an easier target.
Related Reading:
A mouse in the house, a bird in the chimney, a bat in the bellfry – who do you call?
How Often Should You Get A Termite Inspection?
NEW California Disclosure – Home Fire Hardening Disclosure and Advisory
