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woodpecker killed in its winter house
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Posted by
jones60 (
My Page) on
Mon, Oct 25, 10 at 18:28
| I have left up some bird houses in Ct for the winter. A woodpecker house is up which he had used till a sparrow took it over. But have seen no one there. today saw a woodpecker go in a couple times then out which I thought odd so I figured a sparrow was in there so I went to look and there was a dead woodpecker. I feel the sparrow did it? Who else could have. I have now taken every single box down!! Will a sparrow do that in the winter?? I do have a lot of sparrows which have ruined my bluebirds nesting etc. So I guess the best thing is to take ALL houses down. I feel so bad for the woodpecker!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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Oh man. How terrible. Was the woodpecker a little Downy woodpecker or a larger one? House Sparrows are horrid little creatures, and it sure sounds like something one of them would do. Don't think that they could handle a large woodpecker tho. I know that they will kill Bluebirds and Tree Swallows when competing for nestboxes. Did the woodpecker have injuries that could have resulted from being pecked? Just yesterday, I had to take down a nest box in my yard because House Sparrows were taking in nesting materials. Of course, the woodpecker could have died of natural causes too. You can purchase or make a "Sparrow Spooker" to mount onto the birdhouse. I made and use them on my Bluebird boxes to keep the nasties out, and I have had good success with them. Just Google the words "Sparrow Spooker" and you will find info.
Check out this info on the HOSP and their habits at the sialis site: http://www.sialis.org/hospattacks.htm |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sialis site info on House Sparrows
RE:: woodpecker killed in its winter house..
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Oops. I really messed up. I am so very sorry y'all. I truly didn't mean to add a link to that graphic picture page. Don't know how to remove that link now that I accidentally posted it. I am really so sorry to anyone who was offended by seeing the pics there. Please do accept my sincere apology? Thanks.
The correct link:http://www.sialis.org/hosphistory.htm |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sialis page on House Sparrows
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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| I'm not sure a HOSP is a match for that Woodpecker beak even if it was a samll Downy. Do you have Owls? I heard some unusual sounds one night, looked outside and found a Screech Owl on the side of a nestbox. I had never seen one before and just stared at him for a while, so beautiful. I didn't shoo it away because I thought it was checking to see if it could use it as a nest box (knowing it could not get in). The next morning there were poor little Downy feathers in the snow. I guess I had interupted the Owl attacking the Downy by reaching in the box. Owls will grab birds in nest boxes if they can reach them. |
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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| I thought of that too Lisa, but the dead woodpecker was found inside the box, and it was known that Sparrows were on the scene there. The other thing I thought of was a Starling. |
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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| I know what these HOUSE sparrows can do. His head and neck area was bad. It was a long woodpecker box so doubt it was an owl. It was a young downey as I have many of them around and they like to go into the boxes. No starlings around here in CT now. It seemed like there was a fight many feathers all over/ I'm taking down the boxes as the sparrows have overtaken them even now. |
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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| I'm still not sure it was a HOSP at this time of year but I am in no way sticking up for them. It's good that you are taking the boxes down, are you doing anything about the HOSP population? It's no fun, makes me sick but I have had to take action the last 2 years. There were no HOSPs out here before that. I wish they would go back where they came from. |
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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Well, if the little Downy was inside the box, and the HOSP came in on him trapping him? I know that Downys will roost in nestboxes. I have a significantly strong dislike for HOSP's. They are NOT nice birds to have around. I was very surprised to see a pair of them carrying nesting materials into my Titmouse box the other day. I put an end to that asap.
Do try the Sparrow Spookers tho jones. They really do work. I made one myself, and I put it onto my BB boxes as soon as they lay the first egg. If you want to see a pic, send me an e-mail. I'm sure it'd work fine to leave one up on the box all winter to keep the vermin away.~~Angie |
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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| I'm in Ct so nesting is over. But the hosp are trying to find boxes to winter over. There were others. Why they kill after nesting season is mean. The woodpecker had claimed this house before the HOSP. Guess there are killer ones out there. AA the boxes are coming down as it seems the HOSP are wintering in them not the other birds? will keeping all boxes down stop the hosp from taking over in the spring??? |
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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| The only way to keep them from taking over is to get rid of them. As I said, not fun but has to be done. |
RE: woodpecker killed in its winter house
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| Well jones, I was thinking. If the Sparrow Spookers will keep the HOSP out of the boxes during nesting season, why wouldn't they keep them out during winter roosting as well? I haven't ever seen any discussion on the matter, but it does make sense that it would work. Maybe the spookers would allow the woodpeckers to roost in peace? Just thinking. Lisa...I agree with you, and I do take measures. They can be really hard to catch tho. |
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