**This is war** Are there any ways to discourage a woodpecker from being destructive?

[chrissyk]

**Update at bottom of thread**

If this isn't the strangest question I've ever asked, then I don't know what is. We have a unique carved tiki at our new house. It was carved by a local artist. I believe that it used to be a palm tree, and it sounds fairly hollow when I knock on it. Anyways, there is a persistent woodpecker who has made a big hole in the tiki-man's head. Every day, I catch him pecking away at the hole. DH tried stuffing some foam packing material into the hole, and this did dissuade the woodpecker from pecking at that hole. However, yesterday I looked out to see him pecking away at another part of the tiki-man's head Is there something that I can use to get rid of this pest once and for all? I don't want him to ruin our tiki, since we get great enjoyment out of seeing that we went from a horrible climate to a climate where we actually have a tiki in our lawn

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I copied this from a web site you can try these methods

If you have Adobe Acrobat program you can see the article here.

http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomology/ext/targets/ADM/ADMPDF/ADM-5.pdf



Scare Devices
Woodpeckers can be frightened from the area by
banging pots, clapping hands, or honking horns. Spraying
the bird with a high-pressure water hose can also be
effective (Figure 2a). Using high-reflective mylar tape
(1/2" width) has also been successful (Figure 2b). The
mylar tape is looped loosely from the roof soffit under the
gutters or is strung vertically over the damaged area. In
the latter case, use several parallel strands for best
results.
Commercially available helium-filled mylar balloons
(preferably silver) can also be used in a similar manner.
Tie the balloon to a rock using fishing line or a strong string
so that the head of the balloon bobs in the damaged area
(Figure 2c). The rock and balloon can be moved around
the structure as needed. Do not use mylar balloons in
areas where overhead power lines are present.


Drumming or pecking may also be discouraged by
covering the affected area with heavy (3+mils) plastic
sheeting. The plastic should be stretched tightly over the
damaged facade of the structure and attached with tacks,
staples, or tape. This will prevent the woodpeckers from
being able to grip the rough texture of siding with their
claws. Woodpeckers cannot peck or drum if they cannot
hang on to the surface of the structure. The plastic can be
put up or removed as needed.
If substantial damage has already occurred to the
structure, holes should be repaired using wood filler,
wood plugs, or silicone caulk. Temporary screening or
metal flashing should then be placed over the areas to
prevent further damage. If damage occurs repeatedly,
homeowners may choose to cover eaves, siding or window
facings with vinyl or aluminum siding.
Because damage is seasonal and may occur each
year, the homeowner may also choose to use mylar tape,
balloons, and/or netting to prevent damage rather than
waiting for damage to occur.
If you are considering building a new home or remodeling
an existing home in woodpecker habitat (almost all
of Indiana), you may wish to select vinyl/aluminum exterior
siding or masonry in order to prevent chronic woodpecker
problems.

 

[imsayin]

Our house has wood siding & we had a woodpecker waking us up for a few mornings, chipping away at the side of our house. We opened a window near his spot & blared a boombox. He was gone after 2 days. Supposedly, they don't like loud noise. I think we also put aluminum foil over his spot.

 

[MosMom]

Get a plastic tiki.

 

[chrissyk]

Hmmm...I'm thinking that the plastic sheeting may help! This little bugger comes back even when you do plug up his hole, though. We were already going to fill the first hole with wood filler, but I want to prevent any further damage. Maybe wrapping the tiki-man in Saran Wrap for a few weeks would be enough to encourage Woody Woodpecker to find another tree to bother.

 

[wfloyd]

We had a woodpecker that would constantly pound on our metal gutters. Very annoying at 6:00 Saturday morning. One morning I happened to be up when he started his racket. I snuck outside with a yard stick and saw his tail feathers hanging over the gutter side. One quick poke and a flury of feathers later, he left and has not been back to our house. I still occasionally hear him in some of the trees in our neighbors yard but he has left our house alone.

 

[chrissyk]

We had a woodpecker that would constantly pound on our metal gutters. Very annoying at 6:00 Saturday morning. One morning I happened to be up when he started his racket. I snuck outside with a yard stick and saw his tail feathers hanging over the gutter side. One quick poke and a flury of feathers later, he left and has not been back to our house. I still occasionally hear him in some of the trees in our neighbors yard but he has left our house alone.

I was LMAO until I saw that you are also on the Space Coast. Do I have you to thank for sending this bugger over to my house?

 

[wfloyd]

I was LMAO until I saw that you are also on the Space Coast. Do I have you to thank for sending this bugger over to my house?

Depends where about you are. Since I can still hear him (and occasionally see him) in the trees, I don't think he has gone too far. I'm just happy that he didn't go and get reenforcements and come back.

He could have done us a favor and told all his friends about the strange things that happen to casual birds looking for food and they all avoid us now.

 

[chrissyk]

Depends where about you are. Since I can still hear him (and occasionally see him) in the trees, I don't think he has gone too far. I'm just happy that he didn't go and get reenforcements and come back.

He could have done us a favor and told all his friends about the strange things that happen to casual birds looking for food and they all avoid us now.

Don't worry...he won't be back. I'm sure his friends told him about this sweet tiki-man out by the beach that he could go destroy

 

[chrissyk]

Well, the problem has gotten worse. The little creep seems to have found himself a girlfriend! Both of them were pecking away at our tiki when I got to the house today I didn't have much handy, so I stuffed the hole with baby wipes. When my DH arrived at lunch, he told me that there were wipes all over the lawn. My feathered nemesis somehow pulled them all out of his hole. Our next step is filling the hole with wood filler and then covering the tiki with plastic wrap like the article above recommended. Somehow I think he'll be back as soon as we take the plastic off, though. I swear, I am >>thisclose<< to becoming a woodpecker serial killer right now

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We've had problems with them from time to time. Our house used to be painted a dark gray - now that it's white the woodpeckers apparently don't like us as much...they hang out at the neighbors most of the time.

Sorry I don't have any real solution for you....

 

[kejoda]

Could you get some mylar balloons and tie them around the tikiman? Or get a cat and stuff her in the tree(kidding)

 

[chrissyk]

Could you get some mylar balloons and tie them around the tikiman? Or get a cat and stuff her in the tree(kidding)

I don't think that they'd be dissuaded by my cat, LOL! They are really brazen. I can walk right up to the tiki-man, and they don't fly away. Of course, when I went to poke them with a stick today, they flew off I've had it with them!! I'm going to the party store tomorrow to get a bunch of mylar stuff...these birds are not going to get the best of me (or my tiki-man)!!!

 

[nuke]

How about a beebee gun or slingshot? I hate birds!

 

[mrsv98]

Woodpeckers are primary cavity nesters. That means they create nests by making holes in a tree....or um a Tiki as the case may be ... Since the female is around they have really taken a liking to your tiki as a nesting site. I second the suggestion of a couple mylar ballons attached to the tiki. Since they are actively nesting, they will need to find somewhere else quickly so they *should* leave and not come back. HTH and good luck!

 

[chrissyk]

Woodpeckers are primary cavity nesters. That means they create nests by making holes in a tree....or um a Tiki as the case may be ... Since the female is around they have really taken a liking to your tiki as a nesting site. I second the suggestion of a couple mylar ballons attached to the tiki. Since they are actively nesting, they will need to find somewhere else quickly so they *should* leave and not come back. HTH and good luck!

Ooooh, great. They really are making a nest then?! DH said that they were pecking to find termites to eat. I guess that that was wrong. Now I'm totally filling that hole with wood filler tomorrow. I hope that they like their new wood-filler-filled house with the Mylar decorations They need to find someplace else to have their woodpecker children...I'm hanging up the "no vacancy" sign on my tiki-man tomorrow!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

chrissy your post has me cracking up!!!!

Hope your woodpecker pests vacate soon

 

[chrissyk]

I'm sure that I'll see the humor in this one day too You should see what I have stuck in their "house" right now. After these little freaks tossed out all my baby wipes this afternoon, I went looking for better supplies. I found some sort of squishy black rubber thing in the garage...it looks like a rubber hand-grenade of sorts. I have no idea what it is, but it was the perfect size to jam in that hole. 30 seconds after I stuck it in, one of the woodpeckers was back, pecking away at the rubber thing He's no genius, believe me. I'm so done with these birds. They aren't going to know what hit them tomorrow!

 

[chrissyk]

OK, so I tried stuffing the woodpecker hole with tin foil and then covering the top part of the tiki with foil. Woodpeckers don't like foil, right? WRONG. **My** woodpecker was undaunted. He ripped away at the foil, leaving foil confetti in our yard Then, he summoned some unbelievable strength and pulled the large tinfoil ball out of his hole. I found that ball of foil in the street. At this point, it was war. DH and I went to the hardware store and got some expandable foam. DH filled the hole, but I wanted it REALLY full. I wanted the woodpecker to pay

Anyways, less than a minute after we filled the hole, the woodpecker came back and started pecking away. He looked shocked and then flew away. His beak was the same yellow as the expandable foam By then, the foam had expanded so much that it was dripping all over the tiki. My tiki now looks like it's foaming at the mouth, and the foam had fresh woodpecker pecks in it this morning!! Nothing short of a rat-trap or a bbgun is going to stop this guy, unfortunately

 

[marlasmom]

My woodpeckers (up north) loved suet balls and would peck away rather than pecking on the house. If they are eating and not nesting, you might try it.