The venerable Kiwanis Longhouse, home of the South Delta Artists Guild, has acquired a new and rather startling outside decorative feature. It's drawing attention, moving and shining in the breeze. But what is it?
It all started when guild member Ann Hilton noticed mysterious tapping sounds in early April when she was docent on duty in Gallery 1710. She immediately emailed guild president Rod Winning to advise him of the problem.
"I kept hearing an odd noise so went outside to investigate," she wrote. "Here a woodpecker was having a grand time making holes in the outside wall closest to the curling rink."
Monica Burrow was the next guild artist to document the problem, which grew as the woodpecker, later identified as the beautiful and fairly common northern flicker continued its vigorous attack. Her photographs and comments were sent to Corporation of Delta staff, which flew into immediate action.
They found 27 holes in the walls, drilled mostly through knots, with a few through into the inner foam insulation. The woodpecker has worked very fast in this spring nesting period to provide the guild with cross-current ventilation.
Delta staff cut cedar siding patches to screw over each hole as a temporary measure until Care Pest Control completed its assessment. The pest control company then suggested metal patches would be better because woodpeckers just carry on as usual with the cedar patches. The metal patches have now been installed.
Besides being patched up, the Kiwanis Longhouse is also now all a-flutter with a more colourful deterrent: dozens of silver and red metallic streamers have been attached to the outside walls, to flash and move in sun and wind to chase away the flickers without harming them.
Meantime, inside the Kiwanis Longhouse in Gallery 1710 is the guild's current show, Tapestry, featuring artists' views of their world. It's on view Thursday through Sunday until May 24.
