Ask SAM: Woodpeckers chip away at patience

This column is provided by Larimer County Extension's Small Acreage Management (SAM) Program to assist rural residents.

Dear SAM,

I can't take it anymore! Every morning, this darned woodpecker bangs on my house. It wakes up my entire family. Help me get rid of it before the shotgun comes out!

Russ

Dear Russ,

Woodpeckers drum on hard surfaces in the spring to attract mates or identify their territory. And you thought it was your territory!

Our most common early morning drummer is the Northern Flicker. They often drum on hollow surfaces that resonate to make the loudest noise. Metal gutters, downspouts, vents and stove pipes are some favorites. The birds also drum or peck on the sides of buildings.

Excluding the woodpeckers from their target is the simplest approach. Tack hardware cloth or chicken wire over vents or eaves to prevent access to drumming locations. Hanging large nets from your eaves can prevent access to bigger areas.

If the birds are pecking on the side of your house, try hanging a mirror in their favorite spot. Mirrors that enlarge the image, such as cosmetic mirrors, work best. As the birds fly in for a landing, they will see "that other flicker" in the mirror and move on to your neighbor's house, seeking a new territory.

A hawk-shaped cutout hanging from your eaves may also work as a deterrent. The hawk should be dark colored with a wingspan of about 2 feet. Use string or fishing line to hang your hawk mobile from a spot near the woodpecker's favorite locations. The dangling motion of the mobile is as important as the shape. Stationary owl figures have not been effective as woodpecker deterrents.

The Birds-Away Attack Spider(r) is a sound-activated hanging spider. When the bird pecks on the house, the sound releases a giant spider, which descends on a string. The spider then climbs back up its thread. The noise and motion of the spider is intended to scare the bird away.

Visual and noise deterrents sometimes work for a period of time, only to wear off as the animals become accustomed to them. Flicker deterrents may or may not keep the birds away in the long term.

Before you reach for the shotgun, be aware that woodpeckers are classified as migratory nongame birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. You must obtain a depredation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before any lethal control measures are taken.

While we are discussing pests, have you noticed any weeds growing this spring? For help with weed identification or control recommendations, attend a free weed management workshop on May 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the CSU ARDEC facility on the east frontage road, northeast of Budweiser. The workshop is sponsored by the Larimer County Weed Control District and Larimer County Extension.

Bindweed mites may be available this year, as well. If available, they will cost $20 per bag, must be preordered, and can be picked up the morning of June 14 at the Larimer County Extension Office. Call 498-6000 for more information or to reserve your mites.

SAM

Have a question about rural living? Write to Ask SAM, Larimer County Cooperative Extension, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524 or e-mail emarx@larimer.org.