[TowerTalk] Woodpeckers and Antennas

[Jim Jarvis]

Stew, K3ND, wrote:

Ok guys, time for a new thread. This was a new one on
me. <snip> This morning as I was walking out the
driveway, I heard a metallic "rattle" of sorts like
I'd never heard. <snip> I looked up the tower and there was a
woodpecker sitting on the boom of the 40-2CD. As I
watched, he lowered his head and pecked the boom of
the antenna. It was quite loud but he/she wasn't fazed
in the least and continued, on and off, for several
minutes and then flew back into the woods. <snip> 
Maybe I need a plastic owl up there!
-0-

Stew,
You've got bugs living in the boom, and the woody can
hear 'em in there.  Up in VT, I had a Pileated attacking
my 402CD @ 90', for a couple of weeks.  Nothing like seeing
a 2' tall woodpecker whacking away at the boom!  Sounded like
a damned hammer.  Fortunately, mine had a single piece 1/4" wall 
boom, so the potential for damage was nil. 

Jim/N2EA