Woodpecker Control Solutions for Home Siding Installers

If you’re a siding installer, your customers will look to you to recommend ways to keep their siding damage free. One major source of damage is birds—specifically woodpeckers. And while aluminum and vinyl sidings in lighter colors are less likely to be damaged by woodpeckers, the birds will peck at them to generate sounds that attract mates. While doing so, their sharp little beaks will deface and in some cases permanently mar the siding.

Anticipating this problem and offering your customers a solution will leave you with a grateful customer in the long run—a customer who will recommend you to their neighbors and friends. Large corporate customers will be equally grateful that you spared them the future expense of repainting and repairs.

Here are three effective woodpecker deterrents recommended by today’s bird control professionals:

BeakGuard™ Woodpecker Deterrent

This scientific breakthrough has been shown to keep woodpeckers away from siding and other painted surfaces. Known as BeakGuard, it covers virtually any latex-painted surface—including wood, fiber-cement, stucco, aluminum or vinyl. After it’s applied, the elastomeric acrylic finish communicates a warning signal to woodpeckers that says this surface is unwelcome and not worth the trouble to peck. The specially formulated compound is harmless to woodpeckers or other birds.  It’s also durable and long lasting. And it resists dirt pick up. Harsh weather won’t affect it either. BeakGuard establishes a tough, vapor permeable, flexible membrane that is colorfast. Best of all, it's easily applied using a brush, roller, paint pad or conventional spray equipment. One gallon will protect about 180 square feet.

3/4” Mesh Woodpecker Netting

Developed to deny woodpeckers access to siding and other vulnerable wood surfaces, Woodpecker Netting provides a proven effective barrier deterrent that blocks woodpeckers doing any damage. The 3/4-inch mesh netting is made of durable UV-protected polypropylene, which means it will last for season after season of harsh weather. Woodpecker mesh netting is lightweight, easy to handle and install. And something your customers will like is that this netting is practically invisible, so it blends aesthetically with its surroundings. Woodpecker netting comes in 14 x 100-foot rolls and is quickly installed using Poly Clips or staples.

Woodpecker Deterrent Kits

Ideal for discouraging woodpeckers from coming around, Woodpecker Deterrent Kits come with a Bird Repeller Balloon, a 50-foot roll of Flash Tape, and all the hardware you need to easily affix them to virtually any surface. Flash Tape Banners snap and pop in the breeze and reflect sunlight, which will convince woodpeckers to move on to someone else’s house. Bird Repeller Balloons display big “predator eyes.” When the balloons bob and weave in the wind, woodpeckers get the feeling that they are being “eyeballed” for a meal and won’t want to hang around. To ensure woodpeckers don’t get used to these visual woodpecker deterrents, it’s a good idea to move them around frequently.

Homeowners…Paint Your Way to a Woodpecker-Free House

If you’re a homeowner in any area where there are trees, you’ve probably had problems with woodpeckers. They often drill nasty, gaping holes in your siding, fascia boards, EIFS, and those beautiful architectural elements created with foam.

The problem is compounded by the fact that woodpeckers are classified as migratory, non-game birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. So forget about poisons or pellet guns. Lethal controls or nest destruction can only be implemented with a special permit issued by the Law Enforcement Division of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and after recommendation of USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Service’s personnel.

So what can you do to protect your home from woodpecker damage? Fortunately, there’s a humane and highly effective woodpecker deterrent that’s recently been developed. It’s Called BeakGuard.

BeakGuard Works

BeakGuard is a paint-on Woodpecker Deterrent that quickly conveys a warning signal to any woodpecker that may be tempted to start pecking on your home. The results are startling and virtually immediate. After two years of field testing in the most prolific woodpecker areas of the country including  Montana, Colorado, South Dakota and Washington, BeakGuard scored a success rate that exceeded 90% in deterring further building damage. 

BeakGuard was tested on building structures experiencing ongoing woodpecker problems. In one test, a remodeled office building outside of Seattle, Washington with large EIFS cornices (coated foam insulation) was assaulted by woodpeckers every season. Some years the drumming resulted in more than 10 holes around the building—holes that eventually became  nesting sites for smaller birds. The holes had to be filled with spray foam, sanded and refinished every year. After coating the building with BeakGuard, not a single woodpecker has damaged the building.

BeakGuard is Easy to Apply

Easily applied to latex painted surfaces, wood, fiber-cement, stucco, aluminum or vinyl, BeakGuard is an elastomeric acrylic. You can apply it with a brush, roller, paint pad or appropriate spray equipment. One gallon covers about 180 square feet. Thinning of the product is not recommended. BeakGuard should be screened prior to spray application, and the manufacturer recommends that you don’t thin the product. Back-roll BeakGuard when applying over acrylic finishes or other textured substrates. Depending on your climate, BeakGuard usually dries in just 24 hours.

BeakGuard Won’t Harm Birds

BeakGuard uses a common compound that will not harm woodpeckers or any other bird species. In fact, the ingredients in BeakGuard are used in many consumer products on the market today. Products like nail biting and thumb sucking deterrents used to break children of these habits use this technology.

BeakGuard Lasts and is Color Fast

Beakguard is specially engineered to leave a durable, long lasting finish. It resists dirt pick up and holds up to season after season of rough weather. It leaves a vapor permeable, flexible membrane that ensures the color won’t fade or change in tone.

Homeowners: Is Your Siding Being Ruined by Birds?

If your siding is being damaged by birds, the likely culprits are woodpeckers or swallows. Without effective bird control measures to deter them, woodpeckers will peck holes in both your wood and stucco.  Smaller birds will even nest in abandoned woodpecker holes. Swallows prefer to nest on vertical surfaces under eaves or overhangs, leaving unsightly and damaging mud nests on the sides of your home.

Woodpeckers have also been known to penetrate siding and yank out the underlying wall insulation. Holes created by determined woodpeckers can be as large as 4 inches in diameter.  Imagine how your home would look if you had holes that size peppered all over your siding. You’d have to replace it or risk rainwater getting into the side of your home. That’s a huge expense you don’t really need in these tough economic times.

You need to be proactive if you want to protect the sides of your home from bird damage.  Wood siding, window frames, eaves, trim and fascia boards are all fair game. As are rustic, channeled plywood with cedar or redwood veneers. BB guns, bird poisons, or attacking their nests are a no-no. Woodpeckers and swallows are migratory, non-game birds that are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Non-lethal, humane bird control measures should be used. Here are three effective bird control deterrents you should consider:

Woodpecker Netting 3/4" Mesh

Lightweight,  easy to handle and virtually invisible, 3/4” mesh plastic bird netting will prevent woodpeckers and swallows from accessing specific areas of your home. The netting comes in 14’ x 100’ pieces, can be cut to the desired size, and is easy to store and use. The best netting will be made from UV-protected polypropylene for lasting durability outdoors. A bird netting kit makes this netting easy to install.  The kits include Poly Clips to secure the netting under eaves.  These self-adhering clips hold the netting tightly in place.

Red-Tail Hawk Decoys

Even the dumbest, most determined bird knows it’s time to leave when they see a Red Tail Hawk.  Decoys of this predator make decorative bird-control accents around your home.  Always get the most realistic decoy you can buy. The best hawk decoys will be manufactured of heavy duty plastic to remain convincingly realistic year after year.  Just place them in high visibility areas near your home and move them around from time to time to sustain the illusion of a real live hawk.

Visual Bird Deterrents

Easy to install and relatively inexpensive, Visual Bird Deterrents include Flash Tape and Reflective Banners, which whip about in the breeze and catch the sunlight. Equally effective are Scare Eye Diverters and Bird Scare Balloons, which boast mock predator eyes that glare down on birds to convince them that danger is near. Attach these deterrents to high visibility areas around the perimeter of your home, and move them around often to convince birds they are “living” threats.

Birds Attacking Your Siding? Put Some Bird Control on Your Side.

Are woodpeckers pecking holes in your wood or stucco? Do you have so many holes in your siding that smaller birds have started to nest in abandoned woodpecker holes? Without effective and humane bird deterrents, your home will be at the mercy of woodpeckers. Can you afford the expense of re-siding your home right now?

One homeowner had woodpeckers eating through the mahogany siding covering her home. But when she filled in the holes and the house was repainted, the woodpeckers came back as soon as the painters left. One woodpecker put its head into the hole it had made and yanked insulation right out of the wall. Woodpeckers have been known to peck away at siding and tear out the insulation to make a hole suitable for nesting.

Another homeowner had woodpeckers pecking right through her wood siding and through the plywood underneath. The birds promptly tore the insulation out and built a nest between the wallboard and plywood. She put tin over the holes, but the birds just pecked a new hole next to the tin. She plans on putting vinyl siding over the wood, but believes they may peck through that as well. A consultation with a bird control expert would be a smart first move.

Contrary to common belief, woodpeckers aren’t looking for bugs when they peck holes in your siding. Experts suggest that woodpeckers seek bugs in your boards less than 10 percent of the time. And the bugs they’re looking for are usually harmless to your wood or siding.

Getting rid of woodpeckers can be a challenge—unless you use professional bird control methods. Shooting them, destroying their nests, or using poisons are cruel methods that may be illegal. Woodpeckers are protected in most states, so these methods are ill advised.  Here are some woodpecker deterrents the pros recommend:

Woodpecker Deterrent Kits

To get rid of woodpeckers, get a Wood Pecker Deterrent Kit. They come with a Bird Repeller Balloon, a 50-foot roll of Flash Tape, and all the hardware you need to hang them up. Flash Tape Banners crinkle in the breeze and reflect sunlight, which will scare most birds away. Bird Repeller Balloons are covered with  a big “predator eye.” The balloons bob and weave in the wind and convince birds that a giant predator is ogling them. To ensure woodpeckers don’t get used to these “threats,” your should move them around frequently.

Lightweight Plastic Bird Netting

By physically blocking out birds from your siding, Lightweight Plastic Bird Netting denies woodpeckers access to it. Bird netting comes in several mesh sizes. For woodpeckers, get 3/4-inch mesh netting. You can also get bird netting in a variety of colors to match your home's exterior.  To keep woodpeckers away, install the netting in overhanging eaves or other nooks and crannies where woodpeckers peck.

Woodpecker Netting: the Ideal Woodpecker Deterrent

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.

Related articles

• Woodpeckers on Homes...the Damage Can be Costly (woodpecker-control-products.com)
• Got Holes in Your Patio Cover/Gazebo? You Need Bird Control for Woodpeckers (woodpecker-deterrents.com)

Got Holes in Your Patio Cover/Gazebo?You Need Bird Control for Woodpeckers

by Alex A. Kecskes

You invited friends and neighbors over for your annual Super Bowl party, and before the game, everyone went outside to watch the kids play, enjoy the BBQ and relax. The bad news is that your neighborhood woodpeckers also invited all their friends over—to party on your new wood patio and gazebo. And it seems they’ve been doing it for a while, since your wood now looks like Swiss cheese. Which brought out some choice remarks from your partygoers, like, “Hey, Bud, you got a woodpecker problem?”

As luck would have it, all the talk before the big game was about how to get rid of woodpeckers. This included all manner of off-the-wall suggestions like BB guns, propane cannons, firecrackers, and bird poisons. Needless to say, your better half was not a happy camper. And you got an earful after everyone left. In fact, your after-party “honey do” list got a lot longer. The list now includes, “Replace those hole-riddled beams and get some serious woodpecker control!”

So you do what the man of the house must: you consult the bird control experts. And soon, you become somewhat of an expert yourself, learning that there are as many as 22 species of woodpeckers in North America. The most common being the Downey Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and the Northern Flicker. You further expand your knowledge by discovering that most woodpeckers are attracted to earth-tone or natural-colored stains and paints (which describes your patio cover).

You also discover that woodpeckers like to feast on the very insects concealed in your patio beams. It’s no wonder the little peckerheads were drawn to your patio. Finally, you learn that there are two effective ways to deter woodpeckers from your patio, your gazebo and your home (you’re lucky they didn’t attack your nice wood siding). The two woodpecker deterrents include:

Sonic Woodpecker Deterrents

These devices are easy to set up and will scare the pants off woodpeckers. They broadcast bird distress and predator calls that resemble everyday bird sounds, so they won’t annoy pets or your friends and party guests. One bird sonic system currently available can emit distress and predator calls for 22 different species of birds—so no matter which woodpecker species you have, they’ll get the message and leave. The best sonic bird deterrents will have a built-in speaker, come with a volume control and be programmable to turn on or off at night.

Visual Woodpecker Deterrents

For optimum results, and since woodpeckers have already laid claim to your patio cover and property, you should also consider adding some visual bird deterrents. These include banners that snap in the breeze and reflect sunlight, which makes woodpeckers feel very nervous, and bird scare balloons covered with large predator eyes to make woodpeckers feel observed and hunted by large predators. Visual bird deterrents are relatively inexpensive and easily installed just about anywhere. They even add to the party atmosphere.

Keep Your Home Free of Woodpeckers with Bird Control

by Alex A. Kecskes

Your neighbor had woodpeckers peck holes in his beautiful wood siding. It was a sight to see. Holes everywhere--as if his house had been hit with shotguns. He finally decided to get some bird deterrents. They won’t be bothering his house anymore—they’ll be coming to your house. Because you didn’t install any bird deterrents. And you’ve got some really “tasty” wood siding.  So as far as the woodpeckers are concerned, it’s open season on your property. They’ll come in the spring. A few at first, looking for insects, digging and poking, And once they’ve discovered a food source, they’ll turn your siding into Swiss cheese. 

You’ll bang pots, put the water hose to them, maybe hit a few with your BB gun, but they’ll be back. They love cedar and redwood and the bark on that favorite old tree your kids play on. Try to destroy them or mess with their nests and you could be fined. Woodpeckers, you see, are classified as migratory non-game birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

What you need to protect your home and that favorite tree are some serious and humane woodpecker deterrents. No need to harm the little peckers, just convince them to move on. Here are a few suggestions from the pros:

Woodpecker Deterrent Kits

One proven way to get rid of woodpeckers is with a Wood Pecker Deterrent Kit. These include one Bird Repeller Balloon, a 50-foot roll of Flash Tape, and exactly the right hardware to hang these deterrents.

All birds get real nervous around shiny wavy things, especially if they make noise. Flash Tape Banners crinkle in the breeze and reflect sunlight, which is enough to spook most birds. It’s the same with Bird Repeller Balloons. These beachball-size deterrents feature a big “predator eye,” and when they bob and weave in the breeze, birds think it’s some huge predator ready to pounce on them. To ensure woodpeckers believe these are real threats, it’s best to move them around from time to time.

Lightweight Plastic Bird Netting

This popular bird deterrent works on the principle of exclusion. It physically blocks out birds from roosting and nesting. And they have to do that to feel comfortable while pecking and looking for food. Plastic bird netting comes in several mesh sizes. To keep out woodpeckers, you’ll need 3/4-inch mesh netting. Some manufacturers even offer bird netting in a variety of colors to match your home's exterior.  To keep woodpeckers away from your siding, you should install bird netting in overhanging eaves or any other nooks and crannies where woodpeckers search for food.

So there you have it: two effective ways to keep your neighbor’s woodpeckers from invading your property. Don’t wait too long, though. Once they’ve invaded your property, it’s hard to get rid of them.

How to Keep Woodpeckers from Damaging Your Home

by Alex A. Kecskes

Your average woodpecker is 7 to 15 inches long, with short legs, sharp-clawed toes and stiff tails. These birds feed primarily feed on wood-boring insects like spiders and caterpillars.  Unless woodpecker deterrents are used, your home, garage, patio and other structures will be prime targets for attack.

While they’re considered migratory, many woodpeckers stay in the states in which they are found. Woodpeckers usually arrive in the spring, when pairs are on the lookout for nesting cavities. They will attack your favorite trees, leaving unsightly holes and possibly injuring the trees by leaving them vulnerable to damaging insects
Woodpeckers are responsible for considerable property damage to thousands of homes across the country. When they are in their feeding mode, they forage for food by drilling holes in wood and synthetic stucco siding and eaves. Bees and other insects use the grooves in board-and-batten siding to lay eggs, which will attract these birds.

If your home has wooden shingles, cedar or redwood siding, your property is vulnerable to damage. By the way, woodpeckers will also attack your rain gutters (both metal and plastic gutters are prime targets). They’re not shy about attacking your chimney caps and TV antennas (these things make a lot of noise, which is what they like). Woodpeckers prefer to “drum” in the early morning and late afternoon.

So how can you get rid of these annoying birds? The temptation is to use noisemakers, avicides, BB guns and other means to deter or eliminate woodpeckers from your home and property. But these means can be problematic and ineffective. For one thing, woodpeckers are classified as migratory non-game birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It stipulates, “before any person may take, possess, or transport any migratory bird or its parts, including feathers, eggs, and nest, they must secure a permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The good news is that there are many effective and humane woodpecker deterrents you can use to keep woodpeckers from damaging your property.

A good place to start is the visual deterrent. These come in various shapes and sizes to frighten birds and discourage them from building nests. Perhaps the least expensive deterrents are bird scare banners and balloons. Banners can easily be hung anywhere and will crinkle in the breeze and reflect sunlight to make birds feel uncomfortable.  You can also affix large shiny balloons to various areas of you home and garden.  These bob and weave in the breeze, and they feature a large predator eye that convinces most birds they are being “sized up” for a meal. Keep in mind that most birds are smart, so it’s best to move these visual woodpecker deterrents often so birds don't get accustomed to them.

Another very effective woodpecker deterrent is lightweight plastic bird netting. Here, you’re physically excluding birds from certain areas of your home and property. You can get plastic bird netting in several mesh sizes to block out various size birds. For most woodpeckers, you’ll need a 3/4-inch mesh size. Today’s bird netting even comes in various colors to match your home's exterior.  Netting is most effective when installed in overhanging eaves, and other places that provide semi-shelter for birds. Be sure to secure the netting tightly to prevent birds from working their way around the netting.

One manufacturer offers a bird netting kit. It includes bird net hardware and perimeter cable—ideal for hanging the net and keeping it taut so that no gaps remain for birds to enter. Each netting kit also includes cable crimps, turnbuckles, intermediate attachments, hog rings, and accessories—everything you need to properly hang the netting.
The secret to keeping woodpeckers away from your home and property is to think ahead and install woodpecker deterrents before the birds show up.

House Full of Holes? Time for Woodpecker Control

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.

The Woodpeckers Are Coming. Is Your Home Protected?

by Alex A. Kecskes

Woodpeckers will be coming to your home soon—most usually arrive in the spring.
They’ll be in their feeding mode, foraging for food, drilling holes in your beautiful wood and synthetic stucco siding and eaves. They’ll be pecking and drilling in the grooves in board-and-batten siding, digging out insects and trying to attract mates with their incessant pecking. Your home will be at their mercy. If you don’t protect it with woodpecker deterrents, you can say hello to big unsightly holes.

After a while, your wooden shingles, cedar or redwood siding will look like Swiss cheese.
Woodpeckers will also attack your metal or plastic gutters, your chimney caps and TV antennas. The noise they make will drive you crazy--especially in the early morning hours. They’ll also attack your favorite trees, damaging the bark and leaving gaping holes, which can leave your trees vulnerable to predatory insects.

The solution? Forget noisemakers, avicides, BB guns and the like. They’re just temporary measures that can threaten kids, pets and neighbors. Besides, woodpeckers are classified as migratory non-game birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It warns that, “Before any person may take, possess, or transport any migratory bird or its parts, including feathers, eggs, and nest, they must secure a permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

All is not lost. There are many effective and humane woodpecker deterrents you can use to protect your property from damage.

For starters, you can invest in a Wood Pecker Deterrent Kit. These offer a low cost solution to most pest bird problems. They include one Bird Repeller Balloon, a 50-foot roll of Flash Tape, and all the hardware you’ll need to hang these deterrents. The deterrents are extremely easy to install, highly effective and very humane.

The Flash Tape Banners can be hung anywhere and will crinkle in the breeze and reflect sunlight to make birds feel too nervous to stick around. Bird Repeller Balloons are big and shiny with a large eye. When these balloons bob and weave in the breeze, woodpeckers will get the feeling they’re being watched by a huge predator. For best results, it’s recommended that you move these visual deterrents around from time to time to keep the birds “on their toes.”

Woodpecker Kits should be used wherever woodpeckers have become a nuisance. You should install the deterrents on the side of your home, under eaves, and in your backyard or front yard to protect your trees. Installation is a snap. Simply install the brackets included in the kit using ordinary screws. Make sure that the brackets are at least 3 feet apart to cover the area where woodpeckers are attacking. Hang the flash tape from the two smaller brackets by tying a knot around the bracket. Cut the flash tape in 3-foot lengths or longer. When installing the Balloon, inflate it, apply the decals, and hang it from the larger bracket.

Another effective woodpecker deterrent is lightweight plastic bird netting. This easy to handle netting works by creating a barrier that physically excludes woodpeckers from specific areas of your home and property. Plastic bird netting comes in several mesh sizes. The most commonly used netting for woodpeckers is a 3/4-inch mesh size. You can also get bird netting in various colors to match your home's exterior. The best place to install bird netting is in overhanging eaves or any other area that offers shelter for birds. When installing the netting, make sure that you secure it tightly to prevent woodpeckers from squeezing their way around the netting’s perimeter.

The secret to keeping woodpeckers away from your home and property is to plan ahead and install woodpecker deterrents early--before the birds show up. Once they decide to make your house their home, it’s a real challenge to get rid of them.

Woodpecker Deterrents to Bird Proof Your Home

by Alex A. Kecskes

Woodpeckers often do a lot of damage to vacant summer or vacation homes. Regrettably, it's not until your siding resembles Swiss cheese that you finally realize you have a woodpecker problem.

The birds will drill holes into wood siding, window frames, eaves, trim and fascia boards. Woodpeckers generally like to hammer cedar and redwood siding. They'll also attack fir, pine, and cypress in a pinch. And they'll choose natural wood surfaces over painted wood. They seem to zero in on new construction and rustic, channeled plywood with cedar or redwood veneers. The birds will create holes in a narrow horizontal line looking for insects. If you have plastic parts in your rooftop water-heating solar panels or electrical solar panels, woodpeckers can cause you plenty of grief.

Then there's all the drumming these annoying birds do. Woodpeckers seem to enjoy drumming in the springtime and choose wood and other areas where their drumming makes the loudest most resonant sounds. Areas like metal rain gutters, downspouts, chimney caps, TV dish antennas, rooftop plumbing vents, and metal roof valleys are common targets. The birds will drum intermittently all day long—for weeks, even months at a time.
If they drove you nuts last year, you may be tempted to shoot them or poison them, but be warned: Woodpeckers are migratory, non-game birds that are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In particular, the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) are on the Endangered Species list and cannot be touched under penalty of law.

All is not lost, however. For there are effective, humane woodpecker repellants you can use to keep these annoying birds at bay.

One of the most effective methods of excluding woodpeckers from damaging wood siding under your eaves is to place lightweight plastic bird netting over the area. Plastic bird netting comes in a variety of mesh sizes and a 3/4-inch mesh is ideal for most woodpeckers. Leave a 3-inch space between the netting and the damaged building so that birds cannot drum their beaks through the mesh. You might also try to attach the netting to the overhanging eaves, and then reverse back to the siding below the damaged area. Be sure to secure the netting tightly so that the birds have no way to get behind it. The good thing about most bird netting is that it now comes in various colors to match your home's color scheme, so if you install it correctly, it virtually disappears from view.

You might also try to install some visual woodpecker deterrents like banners that crinkle in the breeze and reflect sunlight. Balloons work too, especially the one's with large predator eyes on them. For best effect, these woodpecker deterrents should be rotated so birds don't get used to them. Woodpeckers are pretty smart.

How to Effectively Get Rid of Woodpeckers

By Alex A. Kecskes

Woodpeckers are nice to look at but they can cause a lot of damage. They can hammer you building’s wooden shingles, cedar or redwood siding into “Swiss cheese.”  And unless you find ways to get rid of woodpeckers, they’ll pummel your metal or plastic guttering until it leaks like a sieve.  They’re also partial to light posts, wooden signs and some synthetic stucco exterior finishing. Plywood and Masonite are less attractive to woodpeckers, but they still will attack these materials, peppering them with unsightly holes.

Without effective measures to get rid of woodpeckers, these birds can hack all around an area, creating a large unsightly hole the size of a baseball.  They can damage a roof rafter so severely that it will need to be reinforced with steel to make it structurally sound. Wood shakes or clapboard, synthetic stucco, chimney caps, aluminum flashing and even vinyl over wood are prime targets for woodpeckers.

The woodpecker that does the most damage to buildings is the northern flicker (Colaptes auratus). If you spot one in flight, you’ll notice the yellow or salmon tint under the wings and tail feathers.

So how do you get rid of woodpeckers? If you’re considering bird poisons or BB guns, forget it. Woodpeckers are a protected species, and the $500 fine you pay for killing them can poke a hole in your wallet faster than any woodpecker can drill into your siding. Fortunately, there are effective ways to deal with these birds that are quite humane. Some strategies:

Bird Scare Devices

These Bird Scare Deterrents are a fairly inexpensive way to get rid of woodpeckers. They’re the bright foils that crackle in the breeze, the reflective tape banners that whip about in the wind, and beach-ball size balloons with intimidating predator eyes that bob and weave to give woodpeckers the “willies.”

Hawk Decoys.  Woodpeckers fear hawks, which unlike owls, hunt during the day. So one way to get rid of woodpeckers is to set up a hawk decoy or two. The hawks should be roughly 11 inches long with a 20- to 24-inch wingspan. For best woodpecker deterrent effect, hang the decoy from the eave of your building where your woodpeckers have been active. Use a thin, clear fishing line. To enhance the deterrent effect, attach a mirror that reflects the hawk and make sure your woodpecker(s) can see it from where they regularly perch.

Sonic Systems. You’ve no doubt chased away a woodpecker or two by clapping your hands or banging pots. But do you really want to stand there and bang pots all day?  Better to get a Sonic Woodpecker Deterrent. These devices have successfully been used to drive away all manner of pest birds—including woodpeckers.  They emit predator and distress calls that convince woodpeckers that yours is a danger zone filled with hawks and other flying predators. These sounds have been specially recorded to alarm woodpeckers, yet they are not unpleasant to humans. The best sonic bird deterrents can be programmed to emit distress and predator calls 24/7. You can also add speaker units to significantly widen the coverage area. Some systems will continually alter the pitch, frequency, timing and intensity of their sounds for maximum deterrent effect.

How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers

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.

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• The Obnoxious Woodpecker (bigbasslakemi.wordpress.com)
• Excluding Pest birds with Bird Netting (birdnet.wordpress.com)
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Woodpecker Deterrents to Bird Proof Your Summer Home

by Alex A. Kecskes

Woodpeckers often do a lot of damage to vacant summer or vacation homes. Regrettably, it's not until your siding resembles Swiss cheese that you finally realize you have a woodpecker problem.
The birds will drill holes into wood siding, window frames, eaves, trim and fascia boards. Woodpeckers generally like to hammer cedar and redwood siding. They'll also attack fir, pine, and cypress in a pinch. And they'll choose natural wood surfaces over painted wood. They seem to zero in on new construction and rustic, channeled plywood with cedar or redwood veneers. The birds will create holes in a narrow horizontal line looking for insects. If you have plastic parts in your rooftop water-heating solar panels or electrical solar panels, woodpeckers can cause you plenty of grief.

Then there's all the drumming these annoying birds do. Woodpeckers seem enjoy drumming in the springtime and choose wood and other areas where their drumming makes the loudest most resonant sounds. Areas like metal rain gutters, downspouts, chimney caps, TV dish antennas, rooftop plumbing vents, and metal roof valleys are common targets. The birds will drum intermittently all day long—for weeks, even months at a time.
If they drove you nuts last year, you may be tempted to shoot them or poison them, but be warned: Woodpeckers are migratory, non-game birds that are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In particular, the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and the ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) are on the Endangered Species list and cannot be touched under penalty of law.

All is not lost, however. For there are effective, humane woodpecker repellants you can use to keep these annoying birds at bay.

One of the most effective methods of excluding woodpeckers from damaging wood siding under your eaves is to place lightweight plastic bird netting over the area. Plastic bird netting comes in a variety of mesh sizes and a 3/4-inch mesh is ideal for most woodpeckers. Leave a 3-inch space between the netting and the damaged building so that birds cannot drum their beaks through the mesh. You might also try to attach the netting to the overhanging eaves, and then reverse back to the siding below the damaged area. Be sure to secure the netting tightly so that the birds have no way to get behind it. The good thing about most bird netting is that it now comes in various colors to match your home's color scheme, so if you install it correctly, it virtually disappears from view.

You might also try to install some visual woodpecker deterrents like banners that crinkle in the breeze and reflect sunlight. Balloons work too, especially the one's with large predator eyes on them. For best effect, these woodpecker deterrents should be rotated so birds don't get used to them. Woodpeckers are pretty smart.

Related articles

• Bird Proofing Your Building with Bird Netting (birdproof.wordpress.com)
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Woodpeckers are Coming to a Home Near You

If you have a wood-shingled home with lots of open beams, you could be vulnerable to woodpeckers. If you have a patio cover or gazebo with nooks and crannies where birds can build a nest, you've got an open invitation to woodpeckers. If your garage has wood shingles or eaves, say hello to woodpeckers and expensive repairs.

Your only defense is these cases is a good offense—a safe and effective bird control strategy. One of the best strategies is to install and implement woodpecker deterrents before woodpeckers arrive for the spring.

Before getting into details about which woodpecker deterrents you should use, let's look at some of the woodpeckers you're likely to face. 

Golden-Front Woodpecker. This mid-sized bird is about 11 inches long. It has a gold stripe across the face and behind the neck. Some birds in this family have a small spot of yellow, orange or red in the center of their stomach. They have a pale tan breast with a black-and-white "zebra-stripe" or checkerboard pattern across the back and wings.

Red-Belly Woodpecker. This bird has a pale red back to the nape of its neck and a pale pink belly. Males have a longer and wider bill than the female.

Red-headed Woodpecker. This bird is about 8 inches long. Adults have a black back with white wing tips and underbelly. The head is deep red.

Acorn Woodpecker. A medium sized bird about 9 inches long, adults have black heads, back wings and tails, white chest and facial markings and large white eyes.

Ladder-Back Woodpecker. About 6 inches long, this bird has a black-and-white stripe on its back and wings with a pale underbelly and darker spots on the sides. Males have a red head spot, flecked with black or black and white. Females are usually substantially smaller and without red markings.

Downy Woodpecker. The smallest woodpecker in North America, the downy features a proportionately short beak (less than the length of its head), a white stripe down his back and a white underbelly.

Hairy Woodpecker. Typically 7 or 8 10 inches long, this bird has a white, off-white, pale grey or tan underbelly, black-and-white patterned back and wings, and a white or pale stripe down the back. Males may have two little red spots or a red nape patch.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This mid-sized bird is black with white striping and large white patches on either side of the head. The underside is white with black speckles. They have a small patch of red behind the eyes on either side.

Northern flicker At 12 inches, this is the second largest of the common woodpeckers of North America. The golden-shafted variety is most common in the eastern and northern part of North America, while the red-shafted variety is more often seen in the west. Flickers are typically gray and brown with black striped markings across the back. The underside is light grey or pale tan with darker speckles.

Pileated Woodpecker.  A large bird averaging 18 inches long, these birds feature a bright red crested cap on the top of their heads. The adult males also have a red strip on either side of the bill. They are almost black, with contrasting white marks on the face.

So now you know what the "enemy" looks like, you can prepare for their onslaught. Some of the best woodpecker deterrents are listed below:

Bird Netting. This exclusionary woodpecker deterrent has been widely used with considerable success. Choose plastic netting made of a mesh that is fine enough to prevent the bird’s wings from getting caught. Manufacturers offer U.V. protected polypropylene netting in various mesh sizes and colors.

Bird Scare Devices. These are reflective foils, shiny tape banners and balloons that make woodpeckers too nervous to hang around. They crackle in the breeze and reflect the sunlight. The best balloons have large predator eyes.

Sonic Devices. Woodpeckers are deathly afraid of hawks. These devices can be set up to broadcast hawk sounds attacking a bird—this is not what your average woodpecker wants to hear while they're building a nest.

Remember, the best strategy is to install these woodpecker deterrents before woodpeckers arrive.

Woodpeckers on Homes…the Damage Can be Costly

by Alex A. Kecskes

Woodpeckers on homes can give homeowners an awful lot of grief. They will tap-tap night and day on aluminum siding and wood, and leave nasty little holes in fascia or trim boards, on wood beams, even stucco or brick. They'll puncture metal gutters, downspouts, chimney tops and roof vents. They can quickly disfigure board-and batten or tongue-and-groove siding, especially at the seams, leaving gaping, baseball size holes. Instinct makes them do it. The birds are simply looking for insects, nesting cavities, or ways to communicate with other woodpeckers.

There are 22 species of woodpeckers in North America, the most common being the Downey Woodpecker. Also quite ubiquitous are the Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker and the Northern Flicker. The birds are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so you can put away your BB gun, poisons or other lethal traps. Any bird control measure used to deter woodpeckers on homes must be non-lethal and humane.  Fortunately, there are a number of humane and highly effective woodpecker deterrents you can use to discourage woodpeckers from your home.

Bird Proofing for Woodpeckers

by Alex A. Kecskes

It's that time of year again.  When woodpeckers come a knocking and holes start appearing all around your home, patio, gazebo and even your wooden hot tub.

You can't really blame them. They have their reasons for turning your property into "Swiss cheese." One big reason: they're just looking for a meal. They also tap away during their mating season. Woodpeckers love to tap-tap endlessly on aluminum siding and fascia or trim boards on wood, stucco or brick. And this includes metal gutters, downspouts, chimney tops and roof vents. Time to bird proof your property.

Woodpecker roosting or nesting holes are often found in structures near wooded areas, in clapboard, board-and batten or tongue-and-groove siding made of redwood or cedar. Regrettably, woodpeckers prefer to drill holes in the seams of siding, since there's very little resistance at that juncture. It doesn't matter if the seams are vertical or horizontal, the holes will usually be quite large--baseball size on average. These holes are most often created in the late summer and fall as the birds prepare for winter. Nesting holes, on the other hand, are usually drilled out at the start of the breeding season--between late April and May.

Bird Proofing for Woodpeckers

Image via Wikipedia

by Alex A. Kecskes

It's that time of year again.  When woodpeckers come a knocking and holes start appearing all around your home, patio, gazebo and even your wooden hot tub.

You can't really blame them. They have their reasons for turning your property into "Swiss cheese." One big reason: they're just looking for a meal. They also tap away during their mating season. Woodpeckers love to tap-tap endlessly on aluminum siding and fascia or trim boards on wood, stucco or brick. And this includes metal gutters, downspouts, chimney tops and roof vents. Time to woodpecker proof your property.

Woodpecker roosting or nesting holes are often found in structures near wooded areas, in clapboard, board-and batten or tongue-and-groove siding made of redwood or cedar. Regrettably, woodpeckers prefer to drill holes in the seams of siding, since there's very little resistance at that juncture. It doesn't matter if the seams are vertical or horizontal, the holes will usually be quite large--baseball size on average. These holes are most often created in the late summer and fall as the birds prepare for winter. Nesting holes, on the other hand, are usually drilled out at the start of the breeding season--between late April and May.

Woodpecker Damage Control

Image via Wikipedia

By Carolyn Griffin

Woodpeckers, part of the Picidae family, also include flickers and sapsuckers.  Approximately 21 species inhabit the United States, and 200 species within this family exist worldwide.  Physically, woodpeckers have short legs with two sharp-clawed, backward pointed toes and stiff tail feathers.  These attributes help the bird cling to tree trunks, wood siding, or utility poles while pecking.  In addition, woodpeckers have short, sharply pointed beaks for pecking into wood and a developed long tongue. The tongue is used to dislodge larvae or ants from their burrows in wood and bark, which benefits the environment.  Yet, woodpeckers cause serious damage by drilling holes into wood-sided structures, wooden fences, power poles, and orchards.  Houses and buildings with wood exteriors near wooded areas are particularly susceptible. 

The key to reducing woodpecker damage is to install bird control products before the damage occurs.  Since individual pest woodpeckers may respond differently to control measures, more than one method at a time may be required to stop damage.  Various bird deterrents which frighten the pest woodpeckers have proven effective when used early and in conjunction with other bird control products. 

The Woodpecker Kit includes two visual woodpecker deterrents to discourage woodpeckers. In addition to being effective, it is humane as it does not harm birds.  In addition, it is easy to install and comes with brackets for easy attachment to structures.  In short, this is an effective technique as it creates a deterrent zone that woodpeckers will avoid.

Sonic woodpecker deterrents are used to keep birds away from large open spaces.  There are sound deterrents available that are weatherproof and safe to use around humans and pets.  These sonic deterrents scare pest birds away with distress and predator calls.  In addition, these sound deterrents can target specific species of birds such as the woodpecker.  Each unit can covers up to 10 acres.