Syrian woodpecker

The Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) is a member of the Piciformes order and the Picidae family. It is a common species in agricultural landscapes, particularly within orchards and tree belts, where its close proximity to fruit production poses significant challenges for orchard management.

This bird species is known to cause damage to a wide range of fruit-bearing trees, including apples, pears, cherries, and walnuts. In many regions, the Syrian woodpecker is considered an orchard pest because it targets both the vegetative structure of the tree and the fruit itself, especially during winter months when food resources are scarce.

The biology of the Syrian woodpecker is characterized by its sedentary behavior, meaning the bird remains in the same orchard year-round. They are highly territorial, and their nesting habits involve drilling into tree trunks. If the woodpecker selects a productive tree to excavate a nesting hole, the structural integrity of the tree is often permanently compromised.

The primary damage consists of deep holes drilled into the bark and sapwood. This behavior disrupts the transport of water and nutrients, weakens the tree's resistance to frost, and opens pathways for various fungal infections and wood-boring insects. Furthermore, during the ripening stage, these birds can pierce fruit, rendering the harvest unmarketable.

Management and protection strategies include:

• Utilizing visual deterrents such as reflective tape or predator decoys.
• Installing protective mesh on trunks of young, vulnerable trees.
• Promptly sealing any bark damage with orchard wound paint to prevent infection.
• Implementing integrated pest management to control wood-boring insects that attract woodpeckers to the trees.