Woodpeckers: Orchard Friend Or Foe?
That unmistakable tap tap tapping sound.
A woodpecker drilling away at one of the trees in your beloved orchard. Do you run out and shoo it briskly away, or quickly erect a birdhouse in an attempt to keep it around? First you will want to identify what type of woodpecker it is, and there are around twelve species of woodpeckers that breed in the Pacific Northwest.
Sapsuckers
A common cause of tree damage you have surely seen here in the PNW is caused by sapsuckers - a species of woodpecker that - you guessed it, loves to snack on sap. Unlike most other woodpeckers, sapsuckers spend specialize in drilling shallow holes called “sap wells” into the bark of trees with a high sugar content. In reality they lick or lap up the sap and don’t actually suck it, but our guess is that “Sap-lappers” was too hard to say, and Sap-sucker had more of a ring to it!
The good news either way, is that there is little evidence this shallow drilling will kill your trees, so enjoy their visits to your yard but don’t get too excited about them in regard to pest prevention because little suckers are not in fact the highlight of this article.
The work of woodpeckers whose behavior is specifically useful for insect control has been recognized and studied by entomologists for quite some time, and many are especially efficient when it comes to seeking out and destroying damaging pests that can wreak havoc on your orchard fruits.
Two our favorites are Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers, with Pileated & Northern Flicker, receiving an honorable mention for their role in orchard pest control as well.
Woodpeckers aren’t the only flying orchard friend. Other commonly known winged species such as tits, swallows, wrens, certain raptors, and bats, are also well known as allies for pest control in an organic orchard, especially when it comes to one of every organic orchardist's least favorite land-mates, the CODLING MOTH. The list of codling moth battling bird allies is extensive, but here in the PNW it includes along with woodpeckers - tits, swallows, wrens, and certain raptors. Even bats, which are not birds of course, are very useful for controlling pests.
Codling moth pupae in particular, are exceptionally skilled when it comes to concealing themself into hidden nooks and crannies as well as inside of fruit, and so it’s most effective enemies are those who can best locate and extract them from inside of their pupal chambers. A woodpecker not only removes worms from the trunk of the tree, but is also able to extract them from the fruit itself. Many observant orchardists have noted that some woodpeckers are even able to do so with little damage to the fruit.
“It seems then, that the labors of this bird act not only as a preventative, but also afford actual and immediate relief of the infested fruit.” - InsectLife,III,p.348,Apr.,1891
Woodpeckers can be an especially appreciated ally in the winter. While most insectivorous birds fly south for the winter, many woodpeckers don’t stray far from home.
“Several studies done in eastern Canada have shown that bird predation, especially by woodpeckers, is the greatest mortality factor for codling moth pupae in the winter. Downy and hairy woodpeckers search orchards for pupae located in tree trunks and other hibernation sites. Depending on the year and the orchard, their predation can destroy between 50 and 95% of the pupae.” - Jean Duval, agr., M.Sc., and Stefan Sobkowiak, M.Sc.
So after reading this, we will leave it up to you to decide - Friend or Foe in the organic Orchard?
If we have sparked your interest and you would like to learn more about integrated pest management strategies in the organic orchard, please j keep an eye on our workshop schedule for the next pest and disease management workshop in the HOEC Arboretum or come on in to lend a hand as a volunteer and see first hand the effects of different pests and methods of organic control in our community arboretum!
This article was kindly submitted by a volunteer. If you see any information you think should be amended or edited, please kindly email: volunteer@homeorchardeducationcenter.org
We appreciate your help!