Question
10 yr old tree, tiny holes in almost a circle on the trunk from the ground to about 4ft up.  some branches are dead. what's happening to our beautiful tree.
thanks!

Answer
If these holes are in a line around the trunk they are caused by a wood pecker called a sap sucker. These birds make the holes and the tree puts out sap --insets come to feed on the sap and the birds return to eat the insects. They rarely cause death of the tree. If the tree is dying form other causes the birds will peck the bark looking for insects. Trees most commonly attacked by sapsuckers include apple, crabapple, sugar maple, mountain ash, birch and pine.
If it is sap suckers I would spray the tree trunk with an insecticide maybe Sevin or Malathion this will kill any insects in the holes and the birds will not return since there will be no insects for them to eat.

Or you can use other methods to discourage the birds. To discourage additional damage to trees, home gardeners can wrap a piece of burlap around the damaged areas. Nurseries also sell a tree wrap that will work and looks better than burlap.  Another option would be to spread a sticky substance, such as Tanglefoot, around the affected area. I would try the Tanglefoot rather than the wrap since it is not too visible once on the tree trunk. It is sticky however. Check with your local nursery for the Tanglefoot or the tree wrap.