Woodpecker Deterrents

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you’ve begun to see little holes and cavities in your home’s siding; if your patio cover is starting to look like Swiss cheese; and if you’re awaked in the mornings by the tat-tat-tat of bird beaks, well, you lucky homeowner, you’ve got some serious woodpecker problems.

Chances are, you’re being invaded by any of the 22 species of woodpeckers in North America. Most woodpeckers are attracted to earth-tone or natural-colored stains and paints. And whether it’s the Downey Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, or the Northern Flicker, they'll come a knockin' and do their damage in one way or another.

You really can’t blame the little critters. They’re just foraging for insects under your eaves, siding and patio beams. Problem is, if you don’t implement some effective bird control, the tapping of one woodpecker will draw more birds to your home, and before you know it, you’ll have woodpeckers creating a symphony of destruction. And that means you’re in for some major repairs; something you don’t need in this bad economy.

If you’re thinking of using pellet guns, firecrackers, or bird poisons, forget it. You’ve got kids and pets to protect, and finicky neighbors who will bristle at the thought.

Time to implement a bird control strategy. And one of the most effective and humane ways to deter woodpeckers from your home, patio, or gazebo is Woodpecker Netting.

An ideal physical barrier, woodpecker netting has been specially designed by bird control experts to keep woodpeckers from pecking around your home. This netting works by denying woodpeckers access to wood or stucco siding. After a few unsuccessful tries, the birds will simply get discouraged by the barrier and move on to someone else’s home.

Woodpecker netting consists of a tight 3/4-inch mesh that’s small enough to prevent woodpeckers from getting through. The best netting is made from durable U.V.-protected polypropylene. This netting is lightweight, virtually invisible and easy to handle. It can even be stored and re-used as needed. And it comes with a one-year guarantee.

Woodpecker netting typically comes in a 14 x 100-foot roll. For fast, easy installation, it’s recommended that you get the added hardware, which includes “Poly-Clips. These clips make it easy to hang the net under eaves or other areas. When installing the netting, be sure to position it away from the wall of your home. Secure it to the outer edge of an eave or overhang using Poly Clips, staples, or other attachments. You can let the netting drape down the side of the wall and hang it using weights, or secure it back to the building with self-adhering hooks (you’ll find these at most hardware or lawn and garden centers).

One final bit of advice: If woodpeckers are starting to build nests in your siding, add a woodpecker nesting box. This will give them an alternative to drilling a hole in your siding.

By Terra Anders

The Pileated Woodpecker is easy to spot, and even easier to identify by its distinct drumming sound. At about 17 inches from head to tail, a crown of fire red feathers accentuates its black body. Snowy white plumes run along the bird’s checks and down the neck and under the throat. The woodpecker uses its strong silver beak dig out nest holes in dead trees or branches.  These birds have also been known to drill into the wooden siding of houses.  It is this habit that sends homeowners to the bird control experts looking for a way to deter these birds from damaging their home.

Woodpecker control efforts are best put in place prior to the bird’s mating season. During the spring woodpeckers will be on the lookout for two things: a mate and a safe place to dig a nest. Creating a plan before spring is essential to keep woodpeckers around, but prevent any woodpecker house damage from occurring.

Bird netting can be used to protect wood sidings where woodpeckers may be tempted to drill. Attach a polypropylene bird netting at the edge of the overhang with staples or plastic clips.  Make sure the netting remains a few inches away from the surface as it hangs down, covering the side of the house.  Ends can be weighted for stability, or attached to the siding using self-stick hooks.  This 3/4 inch mesh netting creates a barrier that won’t allow the woodpecker access for drilling.

Once the woodpecker netting is in place, a nesting box could be provided on the property. A wooden nesting box can act as a kind of friendly bird deterrent, since it will provide the woodpeckers a safe alternate environment to build their home. Typical nesting boxes are about 8” wide x 8” deep x 24” tall. The “front door” should be about 4 inches in diameter and be positioned toward the top of the box (about 20 inches from the floor).  Nesting boxes can stand alone on a pole lifting the nest to about 24 feet off the ground.  Better yet, hang the nesting box in a tree where woodpeckers are most comfortable. This technique of woodpecker control is humane and allows homeowners to remain on friendlier terms with the beautiful birds.

Pileated Woodpeckers generally prefer to drill their nests in a dead tree or branch. For this reason, property owners who are planning on removing dead trees should take a week to watch and closely evaluate the site.  It’s quite possible that a woodpecker family has already chosen this tree to raise their family. If a nest is found, it is best to let nature take its course before removing the tree. With a little patience and about three weeks time, the woodpecker chicks will be in flight school and quickly winging their way away from home.  The tree removal can be scheduled once the chicks have flown the nest.

Living harmoniously with woodpeckers is possible.  Understanding their mating and nesting habits will go a long way toward planning effective woodpecker control methods that give both peace of mind and a safe nesting habitat.

by Alex A. Kecskes

You take great pride in the appearance of your home. You paint it, replace or repair the siding, and maintain the shutters. After all that work and expense, you don’t need woodpeckers defacing your home with holes and unsightly marks. But it can happen--if you don’t implement effective woodpecker deterrents.

As many homeowners have painfully learned, woodpeckers can drill holes into wood siding, window frames, eaves, trim and fascia boards. They often hammer cedar and redwood siding until it looks like the surface of the moon. If you have a façade or decorative fir, pine or cypress, they’ll attack that too. Regrettably, woodpeckers prefer new construction and rustic, channeled plywood with cedar or redwood veneers. Many a homeowner has been saddened to discover the tell-tale narrow horizontal line of holes on the side of their home as woodpeckers forage for insects. These birds will even go after the plastic parts in your rooftop solar panels. Without effective woodpecker controls, your home is at the mercy of these pests.

As if damage to your home wasn’t enough, woodpeckers can drive you crazy with their incessant drumming--especially in the springtime. They seem to love to bang away at the hollow areas where their drumming makes the most noise. That includes your metal rain gutters, downspouts, chimney caps, TV dish antennas, rooftop plumbing vents, and metal roof valleys. Ask any homeowner with a woodpecker problem: these birds will drum all day long, week after maddening week.

It’s enough to make you want to whip out the BB gun or even bird poisons. Unfortunately for you and fortunately for them, woodpeckers are migratory, non-game birds that are fully protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In fact, the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) are both listed as Endangered Species and cannot be touched without incurring the penalty of law.

Fortunately for you, there are a number of effective and humane woodpecker control measures you can use to solve most woodpecker problems.

One widely used woodpecker deterrent is lightweight plastic bird netting. This method works because you’re physically excluding pest birds from specific areas.  Birds simply can’t get at your property. Plastic bird netting typically comes in several mesh sizes to block out various size birds. For most woodpeckers, you’ll need a 3/4-inch mesh size. If you’re concerned about the appearance of bird netting, high quality netting is now available in various colors to match your home's exterior.

When installing the netting, be sure to leave a 3-inch space between the netting and the area to be protected. You don’t want the birds to drum their beaks through the mesh. You can also install bird netting to the overhanging eaves, then swing back to your exposed siding. For best results, secure the netting tightly to prevent birds from getting behind it.

To streamline the installation of bird netting, one manufacturer offers a bird netting kit. These kits include bird net hardware to help match any job. Things like perimeter cable, which can be set up around the area to be netted off to ensure that there are no gaps for birds to enter, and that the netting stays taut. The kits may also include netting hardware--items like cable crimps, turnbuckles, intermediate attachments, hog rings, and accessories and tools to ensure a correct and lasting installation.

It’s sometimes best to add additional deterrents to your home (in addition to netting). Combined, two woodpecker control approaches create an effective solution to the woodpecker problem. For example, consider installing some visual deterrents like banners that crinkle in the breeze and reflect sunlight. Or balloons emblazoned with large predator eyes to intimidate pest birds. For best effect, visual woodpecker deterrents should be moved around often so birds don't get used to them.

Above all, it’s important to be proactive and install these woodpecker controls and deterrents before the birds arrive.  Once these birds have “set up shop,” it’s pretty hard to get rid of them.

by Fran Prisco

Woodpeckers have become one of the biggest nuisances of the pest birds in North America.  Besides the constant “tap, tap” that drives most homeowners crazy, they are also leaving holes in the trim, wood siding even stucco of homes.  It is instinct that causes the woodpecker to leave baseball size holes in the sides of wood homes and buildings.  They are looking for insects, nesting cavities or communicating with other woodpeckers.

Ways to Deter Woodpeckers

There are several humane and effective woodpecker deterrents that can be used to get rid of woodpeckers from the sides of buildings and homes.

Sound Deterrents Scare Woodpeckers Away

An easy way to get rid of woodpeckers is by installing a bird sound deterrent.  These sound deterrents will play predator calls and woodpecker distress calls.  The woodpecker will hear the calls and by instinct move on to an area that is perceived safer.  Most bird sound deterrents are made to be used outdoors, they are water resistant and made of rugged plastic.  At the first site of a woodpecker, install the sound deterrent and the bird should go away.

Woodpecker Scare Deterrents

There is a wide variety of scare devices on the market to get rid of woodpeckers.  These include scare balloons, Mylar flash tape and scare eye diverters.  When hung by the area that the woodpeckers are attacking, the reflective scare deterrents cause a distraction zone and the woodpeckers will move on.

Woodpecker Deterrent Netting

One way to deter pest woodpeckers is using woodpecker deterrent netting.  Hanging a plastic netting from the eaves of your home or building creates a “curtain” that the woodpeckers cannot get through. This will force the woodpeckers elsewhere to do their dastardly deed of creating holes in your wood siding.

Installing the Woodpecker Netting

Woodpecker deterrent netting can easily be attached to the end of the eave of the home and draped down.  This blocks the wall making it difficult for the woodpecker to get at the siding of the home.  Once the woodpeckers have gone it is safe to remove the netting and save for the next spring or fall, when woodpeckers are active again.

It is always recommended to install any type of bird control before the birds are a problem.  If you have had bird control issues in the past, install bird control deterrents before you have a problem again.