by Ryan Ponto | Jul 28, 2017 | Bird Netting
While the approximately 200 species of woodpeckers can be found over much of the planet, there are seven species in Florida, several of which might be seen in wooded areas of Leon County.
Our most common woodpecker is the red-bellied, which readily comes to feeders for sunflower seeds or peanuts. Our largest is the pileated, and is familiar for its red crest and noisy hammering. The downy woodpecker is the smallest we generally see, and is not much larger than a sparrow. They, too, readily come to backyard feeders for seeds and suet cakes.
Almost identical to the downy, the hairy woodpecker is a bit larger and is not as common. Our only brown woodpecker is the northern flicker, often seen on the ground, flicking aside leaf debris in search of ants. In steady decline is the red-headed woodpecker due to loss of habitat and competition for nesting sites from starlings. And finally, our rarest, and federally protected woodpecker is the red-cockaded.
All of these woodpecker species excavate nesting sites in trees. Some have definite tree preferences. For example, the endangered red-cockaded excavates its nesting cavity only in older living pine trees that are infected with red heart rot and located in relatively open areas. Most woodpeckers, however, create nest cavities in dead or decaying wood. Removal of dead or dying trees from forests, parks, and yards results in declining habit for woodpeckers in search of nesting sites.
Standing dead and dying trees called “snags” are important for cavity nesters. Snags may occur as a result of disease, lightning, fire, animal damage, too much shade, drought, root competition, or just old age. All trees are potential snags, but many are cut down without thought to their value as nest sites. Many snags can safely be left in place.
Different kinds of trees develop cavities at different ages, and woodpeckers use both hardwood and cone-bearing trees. The best snags for cavity-nesting birds are those with hard sapwood and decayed heartwood, making them hard on the outside and softer in the middle.
Woodpeckers are considered “primary cavity nesters” as they generally create new nesting holes each year. “Secondary cavity nesters” such as bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, wood ducks, owls, and squirrels are highly dependent on abandoned woodpecker nesting sites.
Snags can be incorporated into your landscape. Try to keep old and damaged trees when possible and when safe to do so. In urban areas, tall snags are best located away from high activity areas so they will not pose a safety hazard if they fall.
Trees that lean away or are downhill from houses and other structures may present little or no risk. You can tell if a tree is a future snag if it has running sap, one or more splits in the trunk, dead main limbs, fungi on the bark, or current evidence of animal use such as woodpecker holes.
You can also create snags on your property by removing the top third of the tree and half of the remaining side branches, or leave the top the way it is and remove a majority of the tree’s side branches. Consider doing this with trees that currently create a hazard due to weak wood or disease, trees that are creating too much shade where you want sun, trees with invasive roots threating a drain field or septic tank, a tree in a group that needs thinning out, or a tree in an area where there are currently no snags.
Always hire an expert tree service to handle this work. Many certified arborists with the International Society of Arboriculture specialize in snag creation and maintenance.
It is highly probable that any snag you provide for birds and other wildlife will be used. Even a tree that is partially dead can provide habitat, as long as the tree is large enough in diameter. In addition to providing nesting sites in snags, backyard birders can provide properly built birdhouses or nest boxes that mimic natural cavities and help to increase the availability of nesting habitat.
Check out the online UF/IFAS EDIS publication, “Helping Cavity-Nesters in Florida,” for specifications for woodpecker (and other bird) nest boxes.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Jul 27, 2017 | Bird Netting
Nuthatches are the only North American birds that search for food much of the time by going head-first down a tree branch or trunk. It is thought that they do this to find food woodpeckers miss on their way up the trunk.
They’re looking for insects, their eggs and larvae hiding in bark crevices. In winter, they often hide seeds in these crevices, to be eaten later.
While the white-breasted nuthatch is widely distributed in all 48 contiguous states, Mexico and Canada, the brown-headed nuthatch lives only in the southeastern US.
This bird favors pine forests, often nesting in pine snags, foraging for insects on pine trees, eating seeds of pine trees, even using parts of these seeds to line its nest.
In winter, brown-headeds often roost for the night in former nest cavities, and it’s usually more than just the breeding pair that spends the night together. As many as ten have been observed crowding into one cavity — a virtual bird slumber party! It may seem cramped for space, but it enables the birds to share each other’s body heat. They all stay a lot warmer that way on cold winter nights.
Sharing a roost cavity isn’t the only way these birds cooperate. Unlike other nuthatch species, brown-headeds frequently get some help with the child-rearing, as well. Breeding pairs are aided by others, probably relatives, with territorial defense, nest excavation, nest sanitation, and feeding of the female at the nest, nestlings, and fledglings. This behavior makes nuthatch baby rearing a family affair.
Eastern bluebird populations have benefited tremendously by nest box programs begun in the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, there may be more bluebirds now than ever before.
The brown-headed nuthatch could use your help in the same way.
If you live in an area with pine trees, put up a bluebird nest box with a smaller entrance hole — 1 1/8 inches in diameter is just right — and brown-headed nuthatches may nest in it. Or, maybe chickadees will, and that’s okay, too.
These two nuthatches are easily distinguished by appearance. Both have white breasts, but while the white-breasted nuthatch has a black cap, the brown-headed’s cap is … your guessed it, brown. The white-breasted is twice the size of the tiny brown-headed nuthatch.
They can also be recognized by their voices. White-breasted nuthatches have a persistent, nasal call, yank-yank-yank, while the brown-headed nuthatch sounds like a squeaky toy, saying dee-dee-dee, dee-dee-dee.
Both nuthatches are readily attracted to feeders stocked with sunflower seeds and suet. For a small investment in the purchase of these bird foods and a couple of feeders, you can draw them up close and enjoy their company year-round.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Jul 26, 2017 | Bird Netting
One of about 50 endangered animals whose habitat includes Virginia just got a new lease on life. Late in June, the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB), a joint program of the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, announced the first successful breeding of the red-cockaded woodpecker in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The Great Dismal Swamp meanders through southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, between Norfolk and Elizabeth City, N.C.
Previously the only habitat in Virginia for the bird was the Piney Grove Nature Preserve in Sussex County. The preserve, owned by The Nature Conservancy, has the northernmost population of this woodpecker. “In 1999, The Nature Conservancy and its partners began restoring the pine savanna habitat to pull the woodpeckers back from the edge of extinction in Virginia,” said Brian Van Eerden, director of TNC’s Virginia Pinelands Program. “Growing the population from a starting point of 12 birds to 70 today started the track record of success for the species’ recovery at its northern limit.”
CCB Director Brian Watts said in a news release that the Great Dismal Swamp breeding program is “a milestone in an ongoing effort to establish a breeding population within the refuge.” Conservationists were concerned because of the risks of having a habitat in an area prone to hurricanes and other natural disasters, so the breeding program in the Great Dismal Swamp was started in 2015. At first the effort seemed like a long shot. “During the run up to the breeding season, only five of the 18 birds that had been moved from other populations remained within the refuge, including two males and three females,” Dr. Watts said.
“By early May, the birds had formed two breeding pairs and soon each had laid three eggs.” The eggs hatched on May 13. Twenty days later, the young birds were “flying and foraging,” Watts reported.
Near-extinct species that have habitats in Virginia include such creatures as the bog turtle, the smallest turtle in North America, and the Shenandoah salamander found only in the Shenandoah National Park. Another example of a Virginia endangered species is the spruce-fir moss spider, one of the smallest tarantulas. It lives in the highest peaks of the Appalachian Mountains.
Efforts to save these and other species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, are just a few of many such projects around the world. Other examples are described in a visually stunning three-part PBS documentary titled “RARE: Creatures of the Photo Ark,” to air on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. on WCVE PBS beginning July 18. “RARE” follows National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore as he photographs animals at risk of extinction. The series also focuses on factors causing extinction, such as deforestation, rising sea levels, pollution and human encroachment. Sartore said at least 100 species become extinct every day. “It’s a race against time. Fifty percent of all animals are now threatened with extinction,” he said. “It’s folly to think that we can drive half of everything else to extinction but that people will be just fine.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Jul 25, 2017 | Bird Netting
The first time I saw and heard a Hairy Woodpecker I was astonished at how fast they struck a tree with their bill. If you have never seen one working on a hole in a tree, just listen to their pattern at the end of the audio on this link. http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/hairy_woodpecker
That’s fast work.
General Description: Hairy Woodpeckers are one of two very similar birds. They are about a third larger than the similar Downy Woodpecker and their bill is larger. The Downy’s shorter bill and rounder head appear to be “cuter” than the Hairy, and that’s about the only differences….size. Both are mostly black with white patches down the middle of their back and white spots on their wings, and the males have similar red patches on the back of their head. The Hairy Woodpecker is 7 to 10 inches in length, with a 13 to 16-inch wingspan, and they weigh anywhere from 1.4 to 3.4 ounces.
Habitat: Common just about anywhere on the Harbor. They prefer mature woodlands but can also be found on forest edges, in parks, at backyard feeders where black oil sunflower seeds and/or suet are offered and in cemeteries.
Behavior: Hairy Woodpeckers forage on the trunks and bigger limbs of trees, prying off the bark to get at their prey. They also choose bigger trees in which to excavate their nests. They hitch up tree trunks using their stiff tail feathers to prop themselves upright, lunging forward with both feet together. They can also sometimes be found at the base of ponderosa pines where a particular species of bark beetle can be found.
Nesting: Hairy Woodpeckers form a monogamous pair bond in late winter then usually continue that bond over the succeeding nesting seasons. Both male and female excavate a nest in soft or rotting wood; they prefer deciduous trees for their nest if they can’t find a snag. The nest hole is about 2 inches high by about 1.5 inches across, and the hole widens at the bottom of the excavation to accommodate the eggs and the incubating parent. The nest entrance is often on the underside of a main branch or stub to discourage flying squirrels or sapsuckers from taking over the nest. Both parents incubate the four eggs for about 2 weeks, and both feed the young. The young leave the nest after 28 to 30 days, then follow their parents around for some time afterward.
Migration: Considered a year-round resident in western Washington, but some non-resident birds may move down in elevation in the winter. There are also birds from farther north that may migrate south into our area in winter.
Conservation Status: I’m happy to say Hairy Woodpeckers are actually increasing in population although they have probably decreased from historic numbers due to forest practices of removing dead trees. They have also had more nesting and roosting competition from European Starlings and House Sparrows.
When and Where to Find on Grays Harbor: They can be found in appropriate habitat almost anywhere on Grays Harbor, but your best chance of watching them is in a forested area of bigger trees. The sound they make excavating a nest or brooding hole carries quite a distance, so listen before you enter a grove of trees. They can also be heard calling, so listen to the sounds on the link I previously mentioned. Then pick a quiet spot and watch the chips fly!
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Ryan Ponto | Jul 24, 2017 | Bird Netting
Former Channel 4 boss Luke Johnson has failed in his bid to fell a protected tree in the back garden of one of his multi-million-pound homes.
The entrepreneur had claimed it resembled “a large totem pole” and caused a “health risk” through roosting pigeons.
Mr Johnson, boss of private equity firm Risk Capital Partners, and his wife Liza fought a preservation order for a 15 metre-high sycamore in the £3.5 million house in Little Venice.
They claimed the tree at the eight-bedroom property harboured pigeons that could carry diseases and parasites, and its seed balls “can irritate the skin and cause respiratory problems”. They also claimed the roots had damaged foundations and garden walls and risked wrecking water and sewer pipes. The tree was protected in January after neighbours became concerned it would be removed as part of Mr and Mrs Johnson’s renovation of the property.
The couple promised to replace it with a smaller one. However, this week Westminster council’s planning committee upheld the preservation order.
After the decision the couple declined to comment. But in an earlier letter to Westminster they wrote: “The tree is simply too large for the nine-metre-square garden. It offers no amenity to the community. The tree is so tall and constrained within the spot that it resembles a large totem pole/telegraph pole. In addition the tree harbours large populations of pigeons which themselves pose a health risk with commonly psittacosis, but also salmonella, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, candidiasis and other parasites.”
Neighbour Lisa Schneider said she was “delighted” it had been saved, adding: “It’s been here longer than any of us and is a haven for wildlife, none of which cause health problems.”
The council’s senior arboricultural officer Barbara Milne dismissed claims about a risk to health. She recommended a bird scarer, saying “the problem of pigeon droppings is recognised as inconvenient, it is not considered to be of such merit as to warrant removal of the tree”.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
