If you’ve been following my newsletter, you know I have a woodpecker problem. Well, today I hung scare tape, a fake owl, and cleaned off the deck. My next plan to get rid of the woodpeckers is to spray the repellent I bought and fix the damage they’ve done to the decorative frame around my window. That requires renting a ladder tall enough, but I didn’t want to wait to get started scaring the woodpeckers away.
Preparing the scare tape
To prepare the scare tape I first reinforced it with duct tape on one end and tied them with hemp cord onto my deck railing. Only a square knot would hold hemp together, so I’m glad I went to girls’ camp and learned all about knots as a teen. Let’s hope this works!
Unfortunately, while I was outside, I noticed weeds are taking over the grass. Guess that’ll be my next nonwriting project.
Then I cleaned off the deck!
Let’s not forget the fake owl!
I just hung him on the edge of my hammock for now. I’m hoping to put him higher once I rent the ladder. No, he’s not electronic or another, but we get wind here.
I’ll let you know if it works to get rid of the woodpeckers. Stay tuned!
Copyright 2017 Teyla Rachel Branton
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Theresa
My mother has one that likes to peck on the side of her house and the top of one of her bird feeders! The funny thing is that both places are metal so he hasn’t done any damage, it’s just annoying and weird considering she has a variety of trees all around her property. I am moving a half mile down the road from her in two days (gonna be fun with 9 cats and a German Shepherd in the van for 10 hours!). I hope he stays down at her place!
Teyla Rachel Branton
That is funny! I hope they stay away from your new place too. Your German Shepherd must be very patient to put up with 9 cats!
Theresa
She’s a great dog. Grew up with the cats and they actually rule her!
Passed on some of your ideas to my mom to help with her woodpecker.
Teyla Rachel Branton
That’s sounds like a houseful. And I hope my tips help your mom!
Cathy Davidson
Looks like you are really going for it…I love the owl! I really hope it all helps you!!
Phycilla Gable
You can use Habanero peppers and their juice and spread it wherever they have pecked are sit and they will go away and not come back!
Celine
Perhaps you could hang up a windshime, not the pleasant sounding
one, near the area so that the movements and noise make it unpleasant to remain there for the birds. When all fails, if it fails, noise would the next thing to try.
Good luck.
Susan BD
You may need to hang the scare tape up by their nest.
Teyla Rachel Branton
Yeah, I’m a little worried about that. But when I rent the (really tall) ladder to spray up there, I’ll hang more! Thank you for the comment!
Joyce
Hi Teyla, I am enjoying your newsletter concerning the woodpeckers. They can be a real nuisance, and destructive too. Hope your method is successful! I am really surprised he is attacking stucco; must be hard on his beak! Too bad he doesn’t get a headache, and try something softer. I had a woodpecker once; he attacked my cedar shake siding, and drove me nuts with his noise. He did not stay more than a week. I understand they are looking for insects, but stucco? Best of luck, Joyce
Jayne
If you still have issues with the pigeons, you can either use hot water and vinegar or hot H2O and hot sauce, it does not hurt the birds but, they do not like it. Worked for me, took some time but, did work.