Of Woodpeckers and Men

A message received recently at Triskele Towers gave me pause for thought. A homeowner wrote to say that they would love to work with us, but thought we would only be interested in large projects, well beyond the scope of the minor repairs she was planning in her Georgian Terrace. In response I’ve asked the Triskele news team to share a few of the smaller projects that we’ve undertaken in recent months. First up involves a lonely woodpecker, whose determination to find love prompted a sleep deprived homeowner to turn to us in desperation.

Spring, it transpires, is the season when woodpeckers begin laying claim to territory and seeking a mate. Both of which are announced with an early morning drum roll. Both sexes do this and can deliver 8 to 10 blows per second with their bill. Trees were the traditional surface on which to drum, but urban woodpeckers have found more resonant surfaces on which to practise their drumming. These can include, gutters, drainpipes and even satellite dishes, though In this instance our woodpecker had chosen somewhat more romantic surface of a Kensington chimney pot.

Our reassurances that the woodpecker was not in fact demolishing his home, but rather looking to set up a home of its own, did little to reassure our sleep deprived homeowner, nor did the suggestion that the percussive awakenings would cease as soon as the woodpecker had found its true love. The solution was not obvious. A rooftop scarecrow? An imitation hawk? A well positioned sniper. Wiser advice finally came from a friend in the RSPB who suggested that movement might deter our little drummer bird. A scaffold was erected and a spinning chimney cowl fitted. It did the trick and, thankfully, our woodpecker moved on, hopefully with a mate in tow. After a good night’s sleep the happy client now wants us to quote on a bigger project, a reminder that mighty oaks from small acorns grow. A sentiment of which I’m sure our woodpecker would approve.