How to discourage the Woodpeckers
April 17, 2022 10:54 AM Subscribe
Within the last week, we had a woodpecker decide our siding was more interesting than the two telephone poles she had been chilling on. Was grabbing on to a windowsill and going to town. Now a second one has showed up, who just grabs on the side of the house and has in a day or so, done a ton of damage. Any idea about how to get this pair to fuck off?
I shot at them with a nerf “rival” gun. I didn’t actually hit them, but they didn’t like it and they left.
posted by kerf at 11:43 AM on April 17, 2022
posted by kerf at 11:43 AM on April 17, 2022
Do perform a good check for termites or other insects in the house, maybe call a pro for peace of mind. Woodpeckers can be tricked, but they are also often right...more coming in for the fun is more concerning than the odd single misguided bird.
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:12 PM on April 17, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 2:12 PM on April 17, 2022 [6 favorites]
Seconding Salty, you likely got bugs in your siding. It’s not like woodpeckers peck for the fun of it.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 2:42 PM on April 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 2:42 PM on April 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: My parents had this problem for a while. They attached streamers of shiny metallic silver plastic to the walls around the areas the birds were pecking. It just plain worked. The birds decided they didn't like the annoying shiny streamers and stopped pecking at their house. After a year (maybe even less time, I can't remember the details) they removed the streamers, and even now—years later—the woodpeckers leave their house alone.
The woodpeckers did just fine. My folks are avid birders and feed birds all winter with various types of quality seeds, suet, oranges and nuts, etc., and even have a freeze resistant bird bath. There's still woodpeckers of various kinds in their yard and surrounding area, but they leave the house alone.
Theirs was cedar shingle. They had it professionally checked out and there were no bugs. YMMV.
posted by SoberHighland at 4:03 PM on April 17, 2022
The woodpeckers did just fine. My folks are avid birders and feed birds all winter with various types of quality seeds, suet, oranges and nuts, etc., and even have a freeze resistant bird bath. There's still woodpeckers of various kinds in their yard and surrounding area, but they leave the house alone.
Theirs was cedar shingle. They had it professionally checked out and there were no bugs. YMMV.
posted by SoberHighland at 4:03 PM on April 17, 2022
Similar to the shiny streamers--I have heard of or seen (don't remember the specifics, sorry) people dangling old CDs from string so that they move and spin with the wind. I believe that the birds are put off by the flashing reflections from the moving CDs.
posted by polecat at 5:35 PM on April 17, 2022
posted by polecat at 5:35 PM on April 17, 2022
Woodpeckers can for sure hammer for ‘fun’. It’s a way to advertise for a mate and/or pair bond, as well as a way of getting food. Woodpeckers often use metal roofs or drain spouts as drums because of their lovely loud acoustics.
But there could be insects too.
If it’s just showing off, it should taper off when breeding gets started.
posted by hydrobatidae at 5:54 PM on April 17, 2022 [4 favorites]
But there could be insects too.
If it’s just showing off, it should taper off when breeding gets started.
posted by hydrobatidae at 5:54 PM on April 17, 2022 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Faster than buying the twirly sticks—we took some strips of tin foil and hung them from a nearby window and they immediately avoided the house. A suet feeder seems to be a longer-term solution.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:18 PM on April 17, 2022
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:18 PM on April 17, 2022
Best answer: We've used the reflective strips SoberHighland mentioned, with success. The other really effective thing we've done is to put out suet cake feeders around the yard and keep them filled*. Woodpeckers love suet and (knock wood) seem to be less interested in our siding as a result.
*We moved last fall from one wood-sided house to another, and when we took the suet cake feeders to our new house, a woodpecker quite soon after made a hole in our old house, which was for sale (sigh) (bastards)
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:27 AM on April 18, 2022
*We moved last fall from one wood-sided house to another, and when we took the suet cake feeders to our new house, a woodpecker quite soon after made a hole in our old house, which was for sale (sigh) (bastards)
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:27 AM on April 18, 2022
Response by poster: Appreciate all the answers. Since it is currently only one nice, protected spot, think it is not bugs. Given the male showing up, think it's typical male one-umpanship. Am looking into the wands, and may be going for the foil strips til those arrive!
posted by Windopaene at 1:03 PM on April 18, 2022
posted by Windopaene at 1:03 PM on April 18, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
We have cedar shingles and we KNOW we don't have much in the way of bugs behind them but we were told they sometimes pick up vibrations from other things in the house, such as heaters and fans. If you have ants or other bugs YMMV as far as getting rid of them.
posted by bondcliff at 11:18 AM on April 17, 2022