March 20

Natural beauty? Or home wrecker?

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4  comments

Spring officially begins this weekend, and this Northern Flicker is here to say so.

He’s calling for a mate from the top of a streetlight on 12th Avenue Northeast. And when he’s not calling, he’s drumming – VERY LOUDLY – on the metal light. Or the nearly metal chimney cap. Or your house.

Flickers, as woodpeckers, can peck through the side of a house in a few hours when they’re looking for nest cavities.  It’s already started. Repairs were being made to a blue house on Northeast 89th Street earlier this month.

Flickers – this one’s a red-shafted male – are gorgeous birds. They eat a lot of insects. But they can do serious damage. The state department of Fish and Wildlife, which suggests ways to prevent conflicts, believes that “any annoyance these woodpeckers may cause for homeowners is greatly outweighed by the large number of insect pests they eat, and the number of homes they create for other wildlife.”

What’s your experience with flickers?

About the author 

Sara W

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  1. Flickers all around Seattle are getting ready to lay eggs right now. The males drum to keep away other males and to impress females. If they are trying to nest in your house try putting up a nest box for them (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em). Plans are available online. Make sure you add sawdust or they won't be interested in the “log”. If they are drumming on your house (most likely metal) cover the metal with something that won't make noise (cloth, towel, etc) or try attaching metallic tape or other items to scare the birds off your house.

  2. Kat: flickers are mostly ground feeders, but they create their nesting cavities “in dead or dying trees, aging utility poles, fence posts, and house siding,” to quote the WDFW.

    Over here in Ballard they've been going to town on my house for a few years now. Nothing like being woken up hours before the alarm clock and having to go outside to shoo away birds that are destroying your house.

  3. I saw two of them this morning duking it out on my neighbor's fence.

    they're beautiful birds and I love their drum-roll please.

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