Birds pecking at masonry

[Ron Trella]

We live in Northern New Jersey, and a number of people in my
neighborhood are having trouble with birds, pecking at and
apparently eating the red brick exterior of our homes.

We've seen the small birds fly up, and cling to the side of the
wall, and peck at the brick. It appears as though they are eating
the grit that falls free.

A good number of the bricks have been defaced, and as much as a 1/2
inch has been pecked away. In each of our homes, it only happens in
a small area near the front door.

Have you ever heard of this? Do you know why the birds are doing
it? And do you have any suggestions for preventing further damage (is
there anything we can spray on the brick to make it less attractive to
the birds?)

Thanks,
Ron Trella
rtr...@worldnet.att.net

[Jabrams]

Just a guess, but the general rule is that the birds are after insects. You
say that its right around the front door. Might you have a rotten door
frame or the wood around the door frame? Try poking at the wood with a
sharp, thin instrument like an awl.

Ron Trella wrote in message <6kp2mf$n...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>...

[BobM]

I've lived in that part of the planet, the Saddle River Valley, to be
specific.
Given the time of year, I wonder if the birds are going after Carpenter Ants
that have swarmed onto your house.
Any local library (certainly Ridgewood's) has several books on insect pests
that you can use to study and diagnose the problem.

A key point: find some wood that is wet, and you'll very likely find the
source of your problem.
Get rid of the water, and you have fixed most of the problem.

-Bob