Woodpeckers as secret builders: How to protect your home!

Woodpeckers as secret builders: How to protect your home!

In Upper Austria, complaints about damage to house facades and insulation caused by woodpeckers are increasing. These birds prefer a varied habitat structure, but cannot thrive adequately in monocultural forests. This led to the Nature Conservation Association of Upper Austria recommending suitable defensive measures. According to a report by orf.at Simple means such as aluminum sheet garlands or wind chimes can be used to keep woodpeckers away. However, since the birds quickly become accustomed to such changes, the methods should be changed regularly to achieve the desired results.

The importance of woodpecker holes

In addition to the problem of home visits by woodpeckers, the preservation of natural caves is of central importance. These caves are not only breeding grounds for many species of birds, but are also crucial for biodiversity in forests. How villewaelder.de Reportedly, the breeding holes of the great spotted woodpecker and the middle spotted woodpecker are particularly valuable. They provide habitat for numerous species that cannot build nests themselves. The cavities that form in wooden structures are also crucial for the development of larger cavities, as they allow fungi and insects colonizing dead wood to access the interior of the tree.

The black woodpecker, as the largest native woodpecker, shows a special bond with old beeches and oaks. The preservation of these trees with woodpecker holes is legally protected under the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), which underlines the outstanding importance of these habitats. Reports of the use of these caves by various species highlight the complex ecological relationships and the need to protect these important habitats.