By Brian Perry
Eastside Realtor
- When we think of pest control in our homes, woodpecker rarely tops the list. I was woken yesterday morning to sweet spring sounds, chirping birds, distant sound of barking dogs, an overzealous member of the community trimming the lawn, and the sweet sweet drilling of a WOODPECKER! A Woodpecker had decided to mine the side of my neighbors house. I couldn't believe the size of the hole it had created! After some admiration of the neighborhood wildlife, I decided to do a little research.
Woodpeckers will drill in the side of your house for a couple reasons. First (and worse for a homeowner) they are mining for bugs. If your walls have termites or ants the birds will drill through the wood products of your home to get to them. Never fear! If Woody Woodpecker is going to town on your home, you may not necessarily have an infestation. They also use the siding to "drum" their beautiful mating call to attract a mate. Spring and fall are the most active times for Woodpeckers, Spring being the hottest action.
The bird on the side of my neighbors house was a Northern Flicker. , the most common bird found in neighborhoods around Western Washington.
What do you do if you have a Woodpecker? Don't kill it! Woodpeckers are protected under the migratory bird laws, and some species are protected under the endangered species act. I did compile a list of things you can do if you have a problem.
There are also professional Woodpecker removers.
Woodpecker Control:
- Distraction. Providing a feeder full of suet may entice the birds away from your home or bird feeder.
- Exclusion. Woodpeckers may be excluded from some surfaces by covering them with plastic or lightweight nylon mesh, metal sheathing or hardware cloth. Metallic or wooded surfaces used for drumming may be wrapped or covered with cloth or foam to mute the sound. An alternative tapping site or surface such as a wooden box hung nearby in a less annoying location may be considered.
- Visual Repellents. Using visual repellents may also chase the birds away.
- Attach aluminum foil strips, 2-3 inches across and 2-3 feet long, above the targeted site. The strips should hang freely and move with the breeze. The motion should frighten the birds away.
- Attach hand-held pinwheels (children's toys) at the site with nails, pins or tape so that the revolving vanes are able to move freely.
- Attach a magnifying shaving mirror at the site. The bird may be frightened off by his own reflection.
- Colorful balloons hung near the area and allowed to move freely may frighten the birds. Commercially available inflatable owls, hawks and snakes are also available at most garden shops.
- Noise. Sound also can be used to harass offending woodpeckers.
- Light pie plates and metal can lids can be suspended on a string and attached to the house near the damaged or drumming site. One end of the string can be near a convenient window or door where the line can be jerked to create noise when the bird is spotted.
- Other noise, such as from banging pans, boards, or clapping hands may also chase birds away.
- Place a loud-playing radio in a nearby window.
- The playing of recorded calls of birds of prey may be used to augment the threat of inflatable models of owls and hawks. Also, vocalizations of woodpecker distress calls (available from sporting good stores) played for short, irregular intervals on continuous loop tapes have reportedly been used successfully.
- Repellents.
- Treatment of the siding with pentachlorophenol or other wood preservatives seems to repel woodpeckers as well as providing insecticidal and wood-care benefits.
- Sticky, paste-type repellents applied in the damaged area and for several feet on either side have been effective but may melt and run in hot weather causing stains to building materials. The birds are not trapped by these substances but dislike the tacky footing.
- Commercial products, available at home and garden shops, have objectionable tastes and odors and may discourage woodpeckers.
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