"How
do you get rid of a woodpecker?" One of our Newton Falls Public Library
patrons was being pestered by a woodpecker,
and was hoping to chase it away before it caused damage to their barn. Fortunately,
there are several methods they can try.
According
to the Audubon Society,
woodpeckers peck for three reasons: to mark territory, to search for insects, and
to make a hole in which to nest. If it looks like the bird is making a hole big
enough to go into, Audubon suggests covering the hole with netting or metal
flashing, though that may not be enough to deter a woodpecker looking to make
your house its home. If it persists, the best solution may be to install a nest
box near the hole in the hopes that the bird will stop pecking and choose to
nest there instead.
If
the woodpecker doesn't look like it's drilling out a place to roost, then it
might be looking for food. It's important to make sure there aren't any insects
in the wood, such as carpenter bees or termites, that the bird might be noshing
on. Otherwise, placing suet nearby may be enough to distract it.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggests attaching netting to the building, keeping at least three inches
between the building and the net to keep birds from getting through.
Plastic
owls may scare woodpeckers off for a few days, but the birds quickly get used
to them. Instead, try auditory deterrents, such as playing the sound of a
predator or a woodpecker in distress, or hanging wind chimes. Reflective
strips, pie pans, streamers, wind socks, and flags can also be hung to scare
away birds.
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