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Birding/titmice drilling holes in cedar shakes on house

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 10/30/2007


Question
My neighbor called to our attention that the front of her house was being damaged by birds.  She asked if we would stop putting food in our feeders to deter the birds.  We checked the area and it seems like the natural cedar shakes are being drilled by titmice.  Is there anything that can be put on the shakes to stop the birds?  Will our stopping the feeders, deter the damage?  We are retired and my husband uses over 1 hundred pounds of seed a week to fill mixed feeders, thistle, hulled sunflower on our 1 and a half acre property. HELP!

Answer
It is the Common Flicker (a type of big woodpecker) that is doing this damage. It is very hard to stop this, although some people are having success by hanging strips of mylar. (a type of plastic film).

Tell your neighbor that it could get worse if you stop feeding seeds, as you are attracting them away from their house. I feed black oil sunflower seeds (which is the best choice as the killer house sparrows don't like them - don't feed the small cheap mixes)and thistle and suet blocks in cages.

The only neighbor here who has had damage does not feed the birds.

If you also have bluebird boxes please send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net and I will mail a free 20 page bluebird book. Bluebird Bob.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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