What's That Noise

"WHAT'S THAT NOISE?"
JB Morrissey

Rocky Mountain News
March 2006

BRRRRRRRT!

Did you hear that?

BRRRT! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT!!!

I know you heard THAT.

BRRRRRTTT!!!!

The bird hammering on the metal cap of your chimney is a Northern Flicker, a brownish woodpecker that can grow to be 15 inches long. In early spring, flicker hormones are racing and the sound it creates by drilling on your chimney can attract a mate. Think about it this way. Right now, it is prom night at Flicker High, Colorado, USA.

BRRRRRRRRRRT!

If it was only the sound, we could put up with the flicker’s metallic mating call. But, the problem is once a pair of flickers hook up, they begin searching for a nest site, a place they can call home. That might be the side of your house and that is the problem.

Northern Flickers are cavity dwellers; preferring to make its nest in old, dead, cottonwood trees. When we cut all them down, to make room for all our new subdivisions, the flicker was forced to find a new place to live. When it started looking around, the flicker realized that the siding on your house looks like the perfect place for them to call home.

BBBBRRRRRRTTTTTT!!!!!

So, what are we to do? The answer is anything and everything. A lot of things work, but none have all the time, every time.

Make It Move:
Flickers hate movement, so motion is your best friend. When you hear a flicker drumming on your chimney, go outside and scare it off. Wave your arms and yell at it. Throw a left over snowball or a tennis ball at it, anything that will scare them away, making your house a less desirable place for the flicker to live. Hanging hawk silhouette mobiles from the eaves of your home is often a successful deterrent. Remember, if it moves, flickers hate it.

Do Not Wait:
The time for action is the minute you see or hear flickers on your house. It can be very hard to drive woodpeckers from their territory or pecking site once they are established so, defend your house against flickers by never letting it get started damaging your home.

I See A Hole:
No matter what you do, it may not be enough. One day you may suddenly notice a hole or two or three, in the side of your house. Now what? The first thing you have to do is fill up the hole. You can use a spare piece of siding or aluminum flashing to cover it or stuff a soda can into the hole. Paint the “patch” to match your siding so it does no other flickers notice. Tack a child’s pinwheel near the hole, to keep other flickers from moving in. Hang plastic strips, or aluminum pie pans from the eaves of your house. It will move in the lightest breeze. Remember, motion is your friend. Use it.

What Will Not Work:
Ever see those big plastic owls that garden centers sell? Do not waste your money. They may work for a day or two, but they quickly lose their effectiveness because, as fierce as they look, they do not move and flickers quickly realize it is not a threat.

Try These Ideas:
Chemicals that have a bad taste don’t work against flickers. There are sticky bird repellents, like Tanglefoot or Roost-No-More may work, but in hot weather, they may also stain the side of your house.

In some cases, it is possible to hand a flicker nesting box in another part of your yard. But, do not hang it on the side of your house. A flicker can drill through the back of the birdhouse and right into your side of your home. Fixing that damage can be very expensive.

You can also turn to your local wildlife master at your local county extension office. We are volunteers, specially trained to help you with flickers, or any other animal that becomes a pest around your yard. We can help you prevent a flicker from turning your house into swiss cheese this spring.

About JB Contact JB Site Map