Can anyone tell me why our family of blue tits have decided to start pecking away at the white painted woodwork surrounding our windows and doors. They do this until the wood is exposed. Is there anything we can do to stop this? May be they are deficient in something? We want to go on feeding them but this is a big sacrifice.
Hello Steely,
I suspect this cheeky little family may well be pecking at tiny insects that they can see or hear in the woodwork. This is not uncommon behaviour for Blue tits this time of year and whilst it might be quite endearing to watch this little birds up close, I can appreciate that despite their small bills, they may well have caused some slight damage.
I would recommend brushing the woodwork with a compound containing aluminium ammonium sulphate, which despite it's name, is not harmful to birds and is only distasteful to them. Aluminium ammonium sulphate is an ingredient found in many animal deterrent sprays and these can bought at any good DIY store or garden centre.
Blue tits are also rather partial to pecking at putty around window frames. It is thought that the putty contains a mineral that my be lacking in the Blue tits diet.
I hope this helps.
Claire
Unknown said: Can anyone tell me why our family of blue tits have decided to start pecking away at the white painted woodwork surrounding our windows and doors. They do this until the wood is exposed. Is there anything we can do to stop this? May be they are deficient in something? We want to go on feeding them but this is a big sacrifice.
Hi Steely
Blue tit’s & Great tit’s normally peck at old style wooden windows and the window surround!
During the Winter and also the Summer.
They could be hunting small insects and spiders in the area.
In hot and also cold weather they could be after the putty, in hot weather they are attracted by the smell of linseed oil that seeps out as it heats up.
Some may simply be hungry and attracted to the linseed oil in the putty, though it is thought more likely that they are simply searching for food.
If your windows have new putty, cover it with a temporary shield of newspaper strips held on with sticky tape, until it hardens.
Mask the smell with a light spray of diluted Citronella oil or rub oranges or lemon peel on the edge of the sill.
Try putting out fat balls and peanut feeders for the birds well away from the building to distract them if you are re-glazing a number of windows.
Hope this answers your question
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Buzzard said: Can anyone tell me why our family of blue tits have decided to start pecking away at the white painted woodwork surrounding our windows and doors. They do this until the wood is exposed. Is there anything we can do to stop this? May be they are deficient in something? We want to go on feeding them but this is a big sacrifice.
Hi Buzzard, thank you for your help - we will try some of your suggestions and post the results.
Jennifer T said: Hello Steely, I suspect this cheeky little family may well be pecking at tiny insects that they can see or hear in the woodwork. This is not uncommon behaviour for Blue tits this time of year and whilst it might be quite endearing to watch this little birds up close, I can appreciate that despite their small bills, they may well have caused some slight damage. I would recommend brushing the woodwork with a compound containing aluminium ammonium sulphate, which despite it's name, is not harmful to birds and is only distasteful to them. Aluminium ammonium sulphate is an ingredient found in many animal deterrent sprays and these can bought at any good DIY store or garden centre. Blue tits are also rather partial to pecking at putty around window frames. It is thought that the putty contains a mineral that my be lacking in the Blue tits diet. I hope this helps. Claire
Hi Mrs T, thank you for your suggestion, as with Buzzard's suggestions, we will try these ideas and post a result - hopefully. I have been told that putty used to be made with fish oil, thus the attraction. But these birds are only interested in getting down to the wood. So furiously chip away at the white paint until they break through.