Who knows woodpeckers?? HELP!!

[Vinca]

We're being terrorized by a woodpecker. He begins his pecking on the metal street sign near the end of our driveway about 5 a.m. and continues for a good hour. Throughout the day he makes a racket every now and then. He just finished up a 15 minute performance. Does anyone have a clue what this behavior is? We live in a rural area and there are trees, trees and more trees for him to peck his brains out on. The good news is it's not the pileated woodpecker who lives in the neighborhood. I think it's a little downy woodpecker. In any case, he's driving us nuts. Thoughts?

[laylah]

1. I apologize for having no help; however,

we once had a Flicker do the same thing on our house in Colorado, as well as the neighbors' house. Interesting, frustrating, and MADDENING indeed. I wish you well :hug:

[Vinca]

2. Thanks. At least he's managing to get us up and going early.

No sleeping in at this house. I might try tying a balloon to the sign and see if that scares him. The "dang" woodpecker is lucky we're not NRA Republicans.:rofl:

[laylah]

3. ...

:rofl:

[Submariner]

4. Put out a suet feeder for Woody where he/she is peckin'

[WhiteTara]

6. aren't the red bellied woodpeckers so cute!

They have the shortest legs I have ever seen.

[semillama]

5. It's a territorial display behavior

So putting up feeders isn't going to help. He obviously likes the acoustics from the street sign - they must carry a long way. I don't think there's anything you can do about it until breeding season is over.