Chuck,
What was the wife's reply to you telling her about the flyers potentially using those holes?
----
I met an out of state client the other day to review the work we were going to be doing on their home for bats and they were both talking to me about
the pack rat (wood rat) nest that is under their wooden walkway up to their deck. As we discussed what they felt was pretty funny and I was enjoying the
conversation as if it isn't a problem for you (whatever wildlife species) I enjoy talking about wildlife...
Her husband at some point says casually, is there any way to get rid of them, I mean if they start trying to come into the house?
I see the wife's face contort and she says, "well we don't have any problems with them so I think we are fine..."
I gave a short snippet on their house structure, the typical entry points up in this area for them and the issues that can come along with them if they do get inside.
Mentioned many folks never have any issues with them just depending on home structure and whether they are supplying food (bird seed) or shelter (wood piles against the house) and or have major defects in their home (this home was quite well built and no crawlspace, on grade...).
She knew I didn't care one way or the other if they wanted to do it or not, I mentioned the pest control company who they know and who referred me to them for their bats so left in their hands.
----
On a side note, the woodpecker issue often my clients who have needs for bat exclusion don't see or realize the holes that are 2-3+ stories above the ground, especially on certain colors of wood where it doesn't seem to stand out.
Much of the damage I seem to see is nest holes versus feeding, I mentioned to Wink we had a client our first year in business for bats that had cedar siding and as we were wrapping the job up for bats he noted that this flicker was slamming a big hole into the upper ridge face of the front of his house and what could we do... We mentioned permitting if you need removal, scare devices and other things that are used, but we were in the middle of making some bat boxes so we told him why don't we try a nest box and see if it will negate the siding damage by offering the shelter this bird seemed to be looking for.
Built and hung a cedar flicker house up under the peak of the ridge on the end of the house, filled it with shavings per the directions given by all the online instructions and awaited to hear it was still a problem...
The next day he emailed and said, there are some shavings on the porch up there under the box and I haven't heard any hammering... After a few days he noticed the bird flying in and out of the box, no more issues plus they are territorial so that bird won't let another setup shop there during the primary nesting and rearing season..
Not something that will always work, but if you see larger holes an option, there are plans from various groups for every bird that drills cavities in the country, plus can order them from commercial sources if don't have time or inclination to build them.
I should note though obvious to most of you I'm sure, the shavings filled up are meant to simulate the bird finding a "punky" old tree that needs to be cleared out to the level they desire for egg laying... This flicker dug out about 1/2 of the shavings in the cavity.
----
Curious though what your lady said back...
