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Hi Guru,
Maybe its the cooler weather, but a woodpecker is now
in charge of home disrepair. He's drilling a whole above
our garage, working away like a mad man.
I thought of putting a set of chimes or a small balloon to
wave in the wind to discourage him.
We had the house treated for carpenter ants the end of last
year and the pest folks thought the tx would last.
Its seems to have lasted havent seen any evidence.
May be there is some new ant or bug which is attracting him.
Any suggesions?
Thanks so much! |
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You don't like the tapping? 
Woodpeckers go after insects. There must be something in there attracting it to that spot. If the wood is kind of rotten there, that might be enough because bugs may have caused it in the first place. OR there may be some sort of creepy crawlers in there.
Have your bug guy come and take a look and maybe spray inside there. Did he offer any sort of warrantee for being bug-less when he did the spraying last year?
PS I like woodpeckers particularly on someone else's house (job security!) |
After the woodpecker has stopped drilling, use some wood repair epoxy. It comes in a two part system that you mix just before using. Fill the hole wait a while then prime and paint!
First you would use something like PC-Petrifier® Wood Hardener-Water Base to seal the wood edges so the epoxy will stick good
Then use PC-Woody® Epoxy Paste to fill the hole so it matches the surrounding areas. |
TheGuru wrote:
You don't like the tapping?
Woodpeckers go after insects. There must be something in there attracting it to that spot. If the wood is kind of rotten there, that might be enough because bugs may have caused it in the first place. OR there may be some sort of creepy crawlers in there.
Have your bug guy come and take a look and maybe spray inside there. Did he offer any sort of warrantee for being bug-less when he did the spraying last year?
PS I like woodpeckers particularly on someone else's house (job security!) |
Thanks Guru! Will have the bug guy check, don't think there was
a warrantee, except for a short while.
They are building lots of new construction in our area,
they most likely took down his favorite tree!
Thanks for all the great advice! |
| If the woodpecker has drilled into just a trim board, you can of course just replace that board!! Good luck! |
The woodpeckers may not be going after bugs; they're probably just "drumming" marking their territory and looking for a mate. The house makes a really good sound for their drumming.
I have many holes around the house from the woodpeckers, and they're all at just about the same height, about 10 or 12 feet off the ground.
I've repaired them a time or two, and repair needs to be done again. I've already bought the wood for this project... twice. lol
From the Audubon Society:
Quote:
For the woodpeckers, I tell folks that in spring the birds are pecking to make noise to establish their nesting territory, and in fall they are pecking to let other birds know that this is now their winter feeding territory. (Or, they have found some tasty bugs in your siding, but that is a rarity.) You can cover or fill the holes, then put up mylar streamers to try distraction. You can also make a C-shaped sounding box by nailing two 1x1's vertically onto the back of a wood panel about 1' x 2', and placing this over the siding of your house. The birds will use this hollow sounding board to announce their presence! |
I've though about putting up a bull's eye for them (or on them! lol) but I'd probably rather put it on a pole or two, rather than encourage them to wake me up with their pecking against the house.
BTW if they are going after bugs, the pecking would probably be rapid-fire: tatatatatatatatatatatatatat so fast, as they're drilling after them. The drumming is: knock knock knock knock, maybe 2 to 4 a second. |
Quote:
BTW if they are going after bugs, the pecking would probably be rapid-fire: tatatatatatatatatatatatatat so fast, as they're drilling after them. The drumming is: knock knock knock knock, maybe 2 to 4 a second. |
Thanks for the sound effects!! |
| They've been drilled into my brain... did I mention their favorite spot is basically right behind the headboard in the master bedroom? |
There is a product used to keep woodpeckers away.
It is called Woodpecker Spray Repeller. It's a Non-toxic spray solution that is designed to provide an initial protective skin to cover repaired areas or as a control measure product on areas where woodpecker damage is anticipated. One pint spray bottle covers 200 Sq. Ft. About $32.00 per quart
But first you need to repair the holes first. I like Woodpecker Hole Filler. It's an environmentally safe, non-toxic resin repair system specifically designed to repair holes and damage caused by woodpeckers to wood structures. In addition to wood repair capabilities, the system provides an aromatic, non-toxic, deterrent that works against woodpeckers and other birds that peck. It is used where woodpeckers have drilled to prevent further damage, and then followed up with the new Taste-Repeller spray repellent over the entire problem area to deter future drilling. If your home is not wood and the woodpecker is pecking on something else. You probably need the Taste Repeller spray. $52.00 for enough to make 2 pints. 30 day shelf life.
There are ribbons that scare them away called Tanglefoot® Tangle Guard Repeller Ribbon. It is a holographic foil strip that drives unwanted birds away by producing an optical and audible discomfort zone. The Ribbon is an economical and humane deterrent that is easy to cut and apply. 2 sizes are available 2"x25' for $20.00 or 2"x100' for $30.00
You can also mix Woodpecker Paint/Stain Additive into your paint. This will deter the little buggers for a long time. 4oz for $23.00 You use 4oz into a gallon. 2 or 3 coats of paint is recommended. |
| If you can catch them in the act, a hose works good and if you wet the side of the house well, they dont like the sound and will move on after a couple of attempts (if you can keep it up). I have 'unfinished' holes to prove this. I also read to put up a suet feeder close to the holes they made and move it farther and farther away from the house. Right now I'm looking for repair solutions since they managed a rather large nesting hole when I was not home (on another side of the house). They LOVE T11 wood siding (the sound it makes I believe) |
