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Home > Archive > UK gardening > May 2007 > Help re bird in garden
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Help re bird in garden
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| judith.lea99@googlemail.com 2007-05-21, 9:25 am |
| for 2 days I have heard a noise like a woodpecker and this morning I
finally tracked down what he was doing. I was woken by this yammering
on wood and I thought it was in the eaves, it wasn't it was at the
bird box on the wall and pecking the entrance hole enlarging it!
I shooed it off but it was back within a minute. The parents of the
blue tits in the box only came back after the bad bird had gone.
I don't know anything about birds, the bad one was black with a red
crest and a longish beak, I don't know if that is a woodpecker or
not. Sorry not to be more precise. My question is, as I am just
going out to the dentist, what can I do to protect the birds? Shall I
take the box off the wall until I get back or would that distress the
parents so much that they might abandon it? An urgent reply would be
appreciated.
Judith
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| On 21/5/07 09:48, in article
1179737310.068144.63720@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com,
"judith.lea99@googlemail.com" <judith.lea99@googlemail.com> wrote:
> for 2 days I have heard a noise like a woodpecker and this morning I
> finally tracked down what he was doing. I was woken by this yammering
> on wood and I thought it was in the eaves, it wasn't it was at the
> bird box on the wall and pecking the entrance hole enlarging it!
>
> I shooed it off but it was back within a minute. The parents of the
> blue tits in the box only came back after the bad bird had gone.
>
> I don't know anything about birds, the bad one was black with a red
> crest and a longish beak, I don't know if that is a woodpecker or
> not. Sorry not to be more precise. My question is, as I am just
> going out to the dentist, what can I do to protect the birds? Shall I
> take the box off the wall until I get back or would that distress the
> parents so much that they might abandon it? An urgent reply would be
> appreciated.
>
> Judith
>
Best to leave it, Judith and let the parents chase off the woodpecker.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
(remove weeds from address)
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| judith.lea99@googlemail.com 2007-05-21, 9:25 am |
| On May 21, 10:15 am, Sacha <s...@gardenweeds506.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
> On 21/5/07 09:48, in article
> 1179737310.068144.63...@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com,
>
>
>
>
>
> "judith.le...@googlemail.com" <judith.le...@googlemail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Best to leave it, Judith and let the parents chase off the woodpecker.
But they don't, they fly into the trees. I have just chased it off
again, it's black, white and red, is it a woodpecker and if it gets in
will it kill the chicks?
I've just 'phoned a friend and she says it's nature!!!
Judith
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| In message <1179737310.068144.63720@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
"judith.lea99@googlemail.com" <judith.lea99@googlemail.com> writes
> for 2 days I have heard a noise like a woodpecker and this morning I
>finally tracked down what he was doing. I was woken by this yammering
>on wood and I thought it was in the eaves, it wasn't it was at the
>bird box on the wall and pecking the entrance hole enlarging it!
>
>I shooed it off but it was back within a minute. The parents of the
>blue tits in the box only came back after the bad bird had gone.
>
>I don't know anything about birds, the bad one was black with a red
>crest and a longish beak, I don't know if that is a woodpecker or
>not. Sorry not to be more precise. My question is, as I am just
>going out to the dentist, what can I do to protect the birds? Shall I
>take the box off the wall until I get back or would that distress the
>parents so much that they might abandon it? An urgent reply would be
>appreciated.
>
>Judith
>
We had this problem with a woodpecker, and we covered the house with
bottom tray from a pram we happened to have kept. A largeish hanging
basket or something similar could also be draped over the nest box, I
think: anything the tits can get through but not the bigger bird,
whatever it is.
--
Klara, Gatwick basin
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| 'Mike' 2007-05-21, 9:25 am |
|
<judith.lea99@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1179739429.081535.138510@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
> On May 21, 10:15 am, Sacha <s...@gardenweeds506.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> But they don't, they fly into the trees. I have just chased it off
> again, it's black, white and red, is it a woodpecker and if it gets in
> will it kill the chicks?
>
> I've just 'phoned a friend and she says it's nature!!!
>
> Judith
>
So it is. Leave it alone.
Mike
--
The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy
Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007
www.rneba.org.uk
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| judith.lea99@googlemail.com 2007-05-21, 9:25 am |
| On May 21, 10:12 am, Klara <klara.k...@nospams.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <1179737310.068144.63...@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
> "judith.le...@googlemail.com" <judith.le...@googlemail.com> writes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> We had this problem with a woodpecker, and we covered the house with
> bottom tray from a pram we happened to have kept. A largeish hanging
> basket or something similar could also be draped over the nest box, I
> think: anything the tits can get through but not the bigger bird,
> whatever it is.
>
> --
> Klara, Gatwick basin- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks Clara, I am off to empty out a hanging basket.
Judith
| |
|
| On 21/5/07 10:23, in article
1179739429.081535.138510@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com,
"judith.lea99@googlemail.com" <judith.lea99@googlemail.com> wrote:
> On May 21, 10:15 am, Sacha <s...@gardenweeds506.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>
> But they don't, they fly into the trees. I have just chased it off
> again, it's black, white and red, is it a woodpecker and if it gets in
> will it kill the chicks?
>
> I've just 'phoned a friend and she says it's nature!!!
>
> Judith
>
It sounds very like a woodpecker. And yes, they're well known for taking
the eggs and young of other birds, especially tits. Klara's idea is an
excellent one, IMO.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
(remove weeds from address)
| |
| Des Higgins 2007-05-21, 9:25 am |
|
<judith.lea99@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:1179737310.068144.63720@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
> for 2 days I have heard a noise like a woodpecker and this morning I
> finally tracked down what he was doing. I was woken by this yammering
> on wood and I thought it was in the eaves, it wasn't it was at the
> bird box on the wall and pecking the entrance hole enlarging it!
>
> I shooed it off but it was back within a minute. The parents of the
> blue tits in the box only came back after the bad bird had gone.
>
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
http://www.birdfinders.co.uk/images...orocco-2006.jpg
http://www.bto.org/birdtrends2005/i...swo10CV300w.jpg
http://www.pinkmoose.ic24.net/image...woodpecker1.jpg
> I don't know anything about birds, the bad one was black with a red
> crest and a longish beak, I don't know if that is a woodpecker or
> not. Sorry not to be more precise. My question is, as I am just
> going out to the dentist, what can I do to protect the birds? Shall I
> take the box off the wall until I get back or would that distress the
> parents so much that they might abandon it? An urgent reply would be
> appreciated.
>
> Judith
>
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<judith.lea99@googlemail.com> wrote
> On May 21, 10:12 am, Klara <klara.k...@nospams.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Thanks Clara, I am off to empty out a hanging basket.
Sounds like the bird is a great spotted woodpecker. Handsome things - we
have one visiting our peanut feeder every day.
Too late for this season, but you might find nestboxes for small birds
are available that have a flat metal surround fixed round the entrance
hole to prevent attack by woodpeckers. Perhaps you could fix something
suitable to the box for future years. We got one from the RSPB catalogue
like that several years ago which also has a removable front panel so it
can be converted to a des res for robins.
--
Sue
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> I don't know anything about birds, the bad one was black with a red
> crest and a longish beak,
Most woodpeckers have red feathers on the head but if, as you say, the bird
was black then it might have been a dyocopus martius a.k.a. a black
woodpecker but they are almost as large as a crow and have not been recorded
in Britain. Stand by for twitchers?!!
My guess is that it was either a great spotted woodpecker (picoides major)
which also has a red bum or a lesser spotted woodpecker (picoides minor)
having no red bum! Both these are fairly common and the former has a
penchant for bluetits' peanuts so it might be an idea to move any peanut
dispenser far away from any nest box.
By the way, the best thing for getting rid of blackfly etc from your roses
are peanuts. Use a plastic container (dried milk type are best) cut a 2
inch diameter hole in its base place a piece of wire netting (the sort used
for peanut dispensers) inside the container so that it covers the hole.
Fill up the container with peanuts, put the lid on and hang the container
not too far from your roses. Whilst the bluetits are queueing to get to the
peanuts, they do the rounds of the roses and eat the blackfly!
Geoff
| |
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| In message <1179739957.154618.157690@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
"judith.lea99@googlemail.com" <judith.lea99@googlemail.com> writes
>Thanks Clara, I am off to empty out a hanging basket.
>
>Judith
(Sorry, Judith, if I emailed you it was by accident!)
What I meant to say was, you obviously don't have a husband like mine:
we have a whole barn full of "items that might come in handy one day"!
But seriously, the "cage" has worked brilliantly for us for many years
now. I really don't know why someone hasn't started to make something
like this professionally ... actually, come to think of it ...
Good luck - and keep us posted!
--
Klara, Gatwick basin
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| Janet Galpin 2007-05-21, 9:25 am |
| The message <8Vf4i.2609$G06.351@newsfe7-gui.ntli.net>
from "Geoff" <NOJOY@virgin.net> contains these words:
[color=darkred]
> Most woodpeckers have red feathers on the head but if, as you say, the bird
> was black then it might have been a dyocopus martius a.k.a. a black
> woodpecker but they are almost as large as a crow and have not been
> recorded
> in Britain. Stand by for twitchers?!!
> My guess is that it was either a great spotted woodpecker (picoides major)
> which also has a red bum or a lesser spotted woodpecker (picoides minor)
> having no red bum! Both these are fairly common and the former has a
> penchant for bluetits' peanuts so it might be an idea to move any peanut
> dispenser far away from any nest box.
Actually Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have become quite rare and are now
on the Red List of species in serious decline.
Judith's bird is almost certainly Great Spotted Woodpecker as they are
common in gardens and behave in just the way she describes.
Janet G
| |
| judith.lea99@googlemail.com 2007-05-21, 1:25 pm |
| On May 21, 1:30 pm, Klara <klara.k...@nospams.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <1179739957.154618.157...@u36g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
> Good luck - and keep us posted!
To everyone, the posted pics are spot on, I have never seen a
woodpecker before.
First of all thanks to everyone who responded to my plea. The update
is I sprayed eau de parfum on the roof. When I stood there looking at
the damage, I could hear scrabbling inside the box. The parents were
in a tree and as soon as I approached the box, they stopped calling to
the chick or chicks. The chick, I think it's one, was talking back
and making chirping noises and then it went absolutely silent. Is
there a warning that the chick understood from the parents and that's
why it shut up?
The hole is quite large now and shaped like a teardrop. Also one
corner of the roof is completely bitten away. I put a basket over the
box and widened the hole to allow the parents in but they keep on
coming to the box, with food in their mouths and appear as if they are
going to go in and then fly away!! If they don't go and feed the baby
soon, I will have to take off the basket.
I did think of filling in the damaged bit with Blutack, would the
parents eat this and if so would it harm them?
Judith
| |
| Des Higgins 2007-05-21, 8:25 pm |
|
"Geoff" <NOJOY@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:8Vf4i.2609$G06.351@newsfe7-gui.ntli.net...
>
>
> Most woodpeckers have red feathers on the head but if, as you say, the
> bird was black then it might have been a dyocopus martius a.k.a. a black
> woodpecker but they are almost as large as a crow and have not been
> recorded in Britain. Stand by for twitchers?!!
I saw one once in Germany. It was the single most spectacular bird I saw
for years after. It was mad looking thing.
If that had been what she saw, she would have described it as a great big
black thing with a big crimson crest.
It would be a bit like someone saying they had a newly formed mound in the
lawn and someone else posting in after some checking of diagrams that it
could be a volcano :-).
>
> My guess is that it was either a great spotted woodpecker (picoides major)
I would go with that. They are common and make a habit of doing this to tit
nests.
Des
> which also has a red bum or a lesser spotted woodpecker (picoides minor)
> having no red bum! Both these are fairly common and the former has a
> penchant for bluetits' peanuts so it might be an idea to move any peanut
> dispenser far away from any nest box.
>
> By the way, the best thing for getting rid of blackfly etc from your roses
> are peanuts. Use a plastic container (dried milk type are best) cut a 2
> inch diameter hole in its base place a piece of wire netting (the sort
> used for peanut dispensers) inside the container so that it covers the
> hole. Fill up the container with peanuts, put the lid on and hang the
> container not too far from your roses. Whilst the bluetits are queueing
> to get to the peanuts, they do the rounds of the roses and eat the
> blackfly!
>
> Geoff
>
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| judith.lea99@googlemail.com 2007-05-22, 1:25 pm |
| On May 21, 11:27 pm, "Des Higgins" <dazzhigg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I saw one once in Germany. It was the single most spectacular bird I saw
> for years after. It was mad looking thing.
This was a mad looking thing with beadey eyes but it wasn't eagle
sized, about half as big again as the Blue Tits.
> If that had been what she saw, she would have described it as a great big
> black thing with a big crimson crest.
No I wouldn't, I've been watching late night films again and I would
have thought it was a Raven.
Judith
| |
|
| On 21 May, 09:48, "judith.le...@googlemail.com"
<judith.le...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> for 2 days I have heard a noise like a woodpecker and this morning I
> finally tracked down what he was doing. I was woken by this yammering
> on wood and I thought it was in the eaves, it wasn't it was at the
> bird box on the wall and pecking the entrance hole enlarging it!
>
> I shooed it off but it was back within a minute. The parents of the
> blue tits in the box only came back after the bad bird had gone.
>
It's a Great Spotted Woodpecker, they do prey on eggs and nestlings of
hole nesting birds and can become a damaging pest of beehives. Not
much you can/should do for your birds. Sad if they do take 'your'
birds but do remember woodie has a living to make as well and they are
certainly not endangering blue tits as a species. With or without
woodpeckers, there is always a huge mortality of young birds and
you'll see blue tits in that box next year - but you might like to
strengthen it a bit, even to the extent of encasing it in wire netting
like some beekeepers have to with their hives.
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