Cute! I've never had Northern Flickers, but the feeders are very close to the window and around here Flickers are spooky

We had the same problem. the little guy kept waking us up, and there are holes all over the clapboard... too high for us to get to, so I'm looking for a handy-man with an extension ladder to fill the holes. We haven't had the woodpecker back in over a month. Here's what we did: DH found shiny silver christmas ribbon, and tacked it to the side of the house, along the areas where the woodpecker liked. He left the ends so they'd blow, and woodie doesn't like it. Woodpeckers peck for four reasons: 1) food (we had the pest folks out, and they told us the peckers aren't after anything, but they (the pest control people) will be back out this spring to take care of carpenter bee larvae) 2) nesting 3) mating calls 4) territory. for us, it was territory. And they are very territorial guys! Once they decide they like your house, they are tough to get rid of. Start early, before, like you, they think it's their home and that you have no right to send them elsewhere! Note that woodpeckers are protected through, so you can't just go out and shoot them (as tempted as you might get!) here are some links you might find useful: 1) ehow Prevent Woodpeckers Pecking 2) Living with woodpeckers, and conflicts with people 3) Woodpecker Damage control, and why they "drum" 4) MSPCA Help with Woodpeckers 5) Critter Ridders: Woodpeckers

It's mating season and the males drum on the chimney caps for attention. My local woodpeckers have been doing this every spring for the 12 years I've lived here and I've not seen any damage.

thanks! I don't see him consistently but of and on...I hope it's the same one. I think I'll just build a house (it's easy enough), put it up, and keep my fingers crossed. I have 2 dead trees at the perimeter of my yard that are perfect so maybe I'll get lucky!