DEAR JOAN: There is a utility pole by our driveway with a transformer on top. Over the years, most especially as of late, there is a whole flock of woodpeckers storing acorns on it.
They also have started to push acorns underneath the shingles of our roof.
PG&E came out and said there is no problem from its point of view, but it is an increasing problem for us. We recently hired someone to clean out the acorns from beneath the shingles to keep our roof from being damaged. What can we do or apply to prevent further damage?
Joseph Bayt
Lafayette
DEAR JOSEPH: Ah, the industrious acorn woodpecker, stowing nuts for what would appear decades of future famine.
Acorn woodpeckers store thousands of acorns and nuts each autumn in preparation for the long winter. As families tend to stick together, you can have a good sized flock working on collecting and storing.
The majority of the birds gather the acorns and create holes for storage in trees, poles and any other section of wood they can find, while one acts as sentry, guarding the acorns from thieves. They prefer to have one location for their acorns, called a granary tree. Having them in one general place makes them easier to monitor, and one site can have up to 50,000 acorns.
Some acorn woodpeckers, however, are more opportunistic, storing nuts in several locations, which may be why they have chosen your roof.
The best way to keep them and other species of woodpeckers away is through intimidation. Hang long, shiny streamers or strips of aluminum foil from your eaves, tether mylar balloons around the roof, or place wind socks along the roof line. You’re looking for anything that will move unpredictably with the wind or even a gentle breeze.
If that doesn’t work, you can escalate the war by purchasing a sound system that will play the distress call of an acorn woodpecker following by the call of a predator — most often a sharp-shinned hawk. A company called Bird-X (www.bird-x.com) manufactures these and there are others on the market. They aren’t cheap, however, running close to $300, but you might find it worth the investment.
Turkey day reminders
As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, I just want to remind folks to keep an eye out on pets.
Between the food and the full house, dogs and cats may become stressed. Be sure they have quiet places to go to so that everyone can have a peaceful day.
Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/AskJoanMorris, and read more of her Animal Life columns at www.mercurynews.com/animal-life.
