I wonder if anyone can assist with issue.
We live in a rural location in Staffordshire.
A family of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers lives closeby (yes I have checked and they are not Greater Spotted woodpeckers). The woodpeckers feed on lavae from a wooden telegraph pole located in our next door neighbour's garden. Which provides a wonderful opportunity for everyone in our hamlet to view and enjoy these birds.
I have recently been informed our neighbour has complained to E.ON about the presence of this telegraph pole and wishes for it to be re-located. E.ON inform us they have no agreement or arrangement with our neighbour to locate the pole in his garden and he is within his rights to insist it is re-located.
My question is are these birds protected by the law? And can we, or the RSPB take action against our wreckless neighbour to prevent this act of wanton eco-vandalism?
Paul Atkins
Hi Paul,
I'm afraid the short answer is 'no'. Lesser spots (like all birds) are protected from intentional killing, 'taking' (trapping) or injury, as are their nests while being built or in use, and their eggs and young. But this protection doesn't extend to the pole and as it isn't a tree I can't even suggest you try using the Tree Preservation Order approach to safeguard it.
What you could conceivably try in a bid to keep the woodpeckers visiting would be to hang 'feeding logs' up. You need a length of reasonably sound branch that you can drill holes through and stuff with tempting morsels like mealworms and suet, then hang up in a tree. There are no guarantees of course but maybe other people here have some suggestions about attracting LSWs?
Cheers
Colin
Hi,
lesser spots normally feed high up in the small outside twigs of large trees . In winter they move with tit flocks and I've never seen one on a bird table :( so I have no real suggestions for feeding them. I would like to see a photo of these birds as I have never seen a LSpWP on a telegraph pole:)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
LSWs do visit bird feeders (not bird tables) on occasion, as at least one of my colleagues in the team here would attest. Here's someone else's pics found with a quick Google image search.
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/british-birds/22793-lesser-spotted-woodpecker.html
Good luck, Paul.
What a shame he doesnt enjoy and appreciate a bird many people never see. I would gladly have a telegraph pole outside my house if these birds or others were enjoying and feeding from it.