Those Dreaded Woodpeckers!
Driving to work this week, I passed my neighbor standing out in front of his house with his back to me, waving his hands and shaking his head. He looked a little irritated. I stopped and hollered, "Mark, what's going on? Do you need some help with something?" "No!" he hollered back, obviously very frustrated. "I'm trying to scare away those (darn) woodpeckers! I'd shoot 'em if it wasn't a felony!"
This is the time of year we start seeing an increase in the activity of Flickers and other nuisance woodpeckers. Left unattended, they can do a lot of damage to your wood siding in a short amount of time. It's an inconvenience you must correct quickly.
Surfing the internet will give you lots of personal stories and methods for deterring their attacks. Personally, the highlights listed below pretty well sum up any plan of action.
- Woodpeckers at your home are either 'drumming' (mating ritual), nesting, or foraging.
- Inspect your siding for the presence of an insect infestation. If found, treat accordingly or call a professional exterminator.
- Water, loud noises, nylon screens, hanging CD discs, reflective tape, pin wheels, mirrors, fake owls or falcons, sonic devices, and bird houses are all potential deterents.
- Maintaining your home wood siding with timely, fresh, solid stain should also be part of the plan of action.
- Don't shoot! It's a federal crime to kill or shoot a woodpecker.
