HEHarendza wrote on 5/12/2000:

        "From what I understand, the woodpeckers are attracted to the hollow
sound,
        which mimics the hollow sound of dead trees, their natural habitat."


        And from what I understand, it's the males trying to make the
loudest, most resonant sound possible, in hope of attracting females.  He
who pecks loudest, pecks highest in the order.  I guess that would tie in
nicely with the tallest column in the wood world discussion.  Style of your
choice.

        You can look up more on woodpeckeers and other varmints in
Outwitting Critters,  an interesting little book about all those animals so
frequently mentioned in these zoological sidebars.

        Bruce Popkin


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Heidi Harendza [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, May 12, 2000 2:27 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Columns
>
> In a message dated 05/12/2000 1:58:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask]
> writes:
>
> > Is there any statistics on what species
> >  of woodpecker make holes in wood columns and possilbe geographic
> > distribution
> >  of incidence? Why do woodpeckers peck holes in columns, as opposed to
> trees?
> >  Do the columns fake them out with smells of bug rot?
>
> From what I understand, the woodpeckers are attracted to the hollow sound,
> which mimics the hollow sound of dead trees, their natural habitat.
>
> Why do I know this? Because my 1976 Shed style house is clad in wood
> siding,
> and woodpeckers love to roost on my bedroom wall and peck at 5:30 AM on
> Saturday.
>
> Sign me,
> ONECat just ate Woody Woodpecker