Rockport, Mass. – Rockport residents have a story of fighting invaders, but not this time.
During the war of 1812, the townspeople in the small fishing village threw rocks into the British soldiers using their socks such as Slingas. Now, they are pulling garbage bags and towels on the side mirrors of their cars to protect them from a destructive and determined pile carpenter bird.
In recent weeks, the bird has broken more than two dozen mirrors and at least the side window of a vehicle. But residents are taking violence calmly.
“Everyone is laughing at that,” said Ben Favaloro. “No one wants damage to the bird. It’s always welcome.”
Favaloro, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost four decades, said he has seen the occasional carpenter bird on the side of the houses in past years and eliminated several trees last summer that were damaged beyond recovery. But glass attack is a new phenomenon.
“Initially, we have just noticed that all the mirrors had adjusted. It seemed that there maybe there is a child in the neighborhood who was going around pushing the mirrors,” he said. But then his sister -in -law saw the carpenter bird of approximately 21 inches (53 centimeters) high in the Favaloro truck, pecking in the lateral mirror.
Given its enormous size, piliad carpenters are strong enough to break the mirrors, but that behavior is “definitely strange,” said Pamela Hunt, a senior biologist of avian conservation in the New Hampshire Audubon.
“Many birds will be aggressive against reflexes in mirrors, but I usually don’t hear about carpenter birds,” he said. “Usually, they don’t peck their opponents, they persecute them.”
She said the carpenter bird could be “a bit stupid” and is trying to defend its territory and scare what you see as competition. The damage coincides with the riggling season for pile carpenters and resident Barbara Smith said it would be fine with “many small carpenter birds”, although they hope they are not so destructive.
“The carpenter birds have to do what the carpenters do,” he said. “Good luck, carpenter bird.”
Favalro said that the carpenter bird and the attention of the media it has attracted has been a fun distraction of everything else that happens in the world.
“This little Rockport city in which I live is one of the safest communities,” he said. “I think this is probably one of the biggest crimes in years. It’s a bit fun, but it’s also pleasant.”
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Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.
