Winged Vandals of Wisconsin

Fanciful paintings depicting the Fall of Rome often show barbarians toppling ancient columns.

It appears something similar is happening today.  Check out these holes in the tops of the porch support columns.

And a few blocks over, another example.

What gives?

Here's the culprit:

Yep, woodpeckers.  I've seen them hammering away at these columns presumably in search of bugs.  So what puts the idea into their little bird brains? 

There is a fair bit of speculation on this matter.  Obviously the tree like shape of the pillars sets off some kind of trigger for them.  Usually, but not always, this is seen on older houses where peeling paint might look like the openings to worm holes.  In some instances maybe there actually are say, ants living in there.  There is speculation that the faint hum of  electrical hookups makes some houses faintly vibrate in a fashion that gets their hopes up.  In the winter months there would be few if any actual insects moving about in there.

My own theory?  Bang your head against something hard thousands of times a day and you have the Mother of all Concussions.  Note the blank stare of the Feathered Vandal pictured above.