In the scenic town of Rockport, Massachusetts, a surprising culprit is behind a spree of car mirror damage: a Pileated Woodpecker. This unusual criminal has been wreaking havoc on vehicles, leaving shattered mirrors in its wake. Rockport resident Janelle Favaloro was one of the first to notice the bird’s behavior and quickly realized the feathered vandal was a Pileated Woodpecker.
The feathered culprit has been busy throughout the neighborhood, targeting at least 25 mirrors. Favaloro even witnessed the bird in action, using its sharp beak to destroy a car mirror. After posting about the strange series of events on a local Facebook group, many neighbors shared similar stories, leading to a viral sensation in the area.
The Pileated Woodpecker’s Reflection Problem
Experts believe the Pileated Woodpecker’s actions are linked to its mating season behavior. During this time of year, the bird is highly territorial, and its aggression is often directed toward anything it perceives as a threat. In this case, the woodpecker likely mistook its own reflection in the car mirrors for a rival bird and began attacking.
Ron Magill, communications director at Zoo Miami, explained that this behavior is common among birds during mating season. As they become more aggressive in their courtship displays, they sometimes fail to recognize their own image and attack what they believe is an intruder. This explains why the Pileated Woodpecker has been so fixated on vehicle mirrors in Rockport.
Creative Solutions to Protect Vehicles from the Pileated Woodpecker
Since the woodpecker’s attacks began in March, residents have had to get creative to protect their vehicles. Many people in the neighborhood don’t have garages, so they’ve come up with clever ways to shield their mirrors. Some residents have folded their mirrors in, while others have used grocery bags or scarves to cover the mirrors. It’s clear that the neighborhood has embraced the situation with a sense of humor, even though the damage can be inconvenient.
Favaloro, who posted about the bird’s antics, remarked that it’s all part of nature, and despite the disruption, the neighborhood is taking it in stride. “It’s wildlife, so you can’t really do much about it,” she said, adding that the situation should only last for a few more weeks until the woodpecker’s mating season concludes in June.
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Source: www.people.com
