Posted on 05/27/2005 10:45:21 AM PDT by Pharmboy
SULLIVAN, N.Y. (AP) - Car owners around town are covering their mirrors in an attempt to outsmart a woodpecker who apparently thinks his reflection is an enemy. Tim Taylor, who owns Thruway Auto Glass, said he replaced 30 smashed mirrors last year and 18 this year because of the bird, which has claimed this area east of Syracuse as his territory.
"People come in pretty mad. One guy's been in here three times already because he keeps forgetting to cover up the mirrors," Taylor said.
During breeding season, male woodpeckers aggressively defend their turf, even against imaginary foes, said bird-watcher Benjamin Burtt.
Anne Miller has had two mirrors on her Pontiac Grand Prix smashed and watched the bird attack her neighbor's Malibu.
"I told him to shoo. He did. Then he came right back and finished the job," she said. "Instead of flying off, he walked across the windshield and did the passenger mirror. I was flabbergasted."
Have they outlawed mirrors yet?
Are there no MagLites in this area?
Related to Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor no doubt.
"Guess who!!!"
With birds, this is not unusual behavior at all.
If you want some fun place a large mirror in with roosters.
LOL. One went after a family member's woodstove metal chimney pipe. Sounded like someone was using a teeny jackhammer on it. Drove us batty.
Hey it's upstate New York. You have to be tough to live here..........woodpeckers included.
I suspect the mirror replacement establishement owner has a trained-bird of prey in his/her backyard. Good for business.
"Are there no MagLites in this area?"
I can't answer that, but it seems that Mr. Crosman doesn't live in the area. ;-)
Similar behaviour has been observed at the Liberal Party of Canada HQ.
Ping.
;-)
A few years back I had a male sparrow who was convinced that my side mirrors were a rival. He spent his days crapping down my car doors, flapping and pecking at my mirrors and scratching up the paint.
I guess I'm lucky that he didn't have the kung-fu that a woodpecker has.
Solution: Mousetraps!
Mousetraps...clever are you.
Male cardinals do the same thing, but without as much property damage. For several months of one year several years ago I had one constantly attacking one of my windows and banging into it.
I think you are looking for this: How much wood would a woodchulk chuck, if a woodchulk could chulk wood?
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