Great spotted woodpeckers have caused blackouts in Ireland by drumming holes into electricity poles.
Rising numbers of the non-native bird have meant that damaged poles need to be replaced by ESB Networks, Ireland’s state-owned electricity operator.
The drumming is a territorial signal and warning for other birds to keep away.
The woodpeckers had left holes in the poles, which began to rot. This forced ESB Networks to remove and replace them and led to scheduled power outages.
The operator confirmed last month that “performance issues” could occur in parts of the network because of the damage caused by birdlife.
The great spotted woodpecker was once a common sight and sound in Ireland’s forests.
It was declared extinct in Ireland in the late 17th or early 18th century after their woodland habitats were felled to make room for farms.
They are the same size as a blackbird, with a black and white body, and have a distinctive bouncing flight.
However, woodpecker sightings were recorded again in Ireland 20 years ago, as a food shortage drove the bird south and west from their traditional home in Scandinavia.
They are proving a particular problem in the counties of Leinster, Kerry and Mayo after the species continued what biodiversity experts call its “dramatic spread” across Ireland.
‘This caused obvious inconvenience’
“ESB Networks carried out substantial upgrade work to sections of the network earlier this year, some of which required the replacement of woodpecker-damaged poles,” said a spokesman for the company last month.
“This caused obvious inconvenience to customers in the area, with scheduled maintenance outages, and we thank them for their understanding during the recent interruptions.”
Earlier this year, the operator told local councillors in Wexford that woodpecker damage was “a big issue”.
“They’re starting to migrate further inland and, from an ESB perspective, we’re inundated with this type of damage,” said a spokesman at the time.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
