Woodpeckers

lafrancaise | 22:31 Sat 22nd Apr 2006 | Animals & Nature

10 Answers

Does anybody know how to stop a woodpecker from pecking into the wood beams of our pergola? Also what is the best way of filling the massive gaps it's left.

Doggy Devotion.

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Thunderbird+

I think its great to see woodpeckers in the garden, but that dont help your pergola doing a swiss cheese impression dose it ? How about hanging a nut feeder to maybe tempt them with a more taistier treat, cant garuntee if it will work but maybe its worth a try. Good Luck.

Thunderbird+

Sorry, I missed the 2nd part of the question. You could fill the gaps with woodfiller 'thixofix' is one i've used. Just an idea but I'd have a close look to see if the woodpeckers are feeding on wood boring insects in your beams.

Clanad

I think were all shooting in the dark here (no pun intended) but along with Thunderbird+'s good suggestion, I have found that woodpeckers are quite wary of owls. It wouldn't cost much to find one of the shiny foil owl cutouts at a DIY store. It's their profile that scares the woodpeckers and the ones I've used are about 18 inches tall. They're meant to be hung where air currents will cause them to ripple. I've used colored (matching the wood tone) all weather spackling to good affect to fill the holes left by your visitor. It can be finished to get even a better tone similar to the wood you are using. It could be that the mating season is still going on and the woodpecker maybe drumming for territorial purposes rather than seeking bugs that have bored into the wood. If that's the case, perhaps it will end soon. At any rate, best of luck!

Clanad

Meant to say, you're up a little late aren't you Thunderbird+?...

Thunderbird+

What!! is that the time ? Bit ot a night owl myself Clanad, time to hit the sack and dream up some more answers...yawn.

lafrancaise

Question Author

Thank you both for your answers. I'll try hanging nuts up and fixing an owl to see if that deters it. Actually, the owl is at the bottom of the garden and i've heard it all winter long, if I'd known what it was doing I'd have done something about it earlier! The posts are 6in thick and I've only got 3in left in the middle of one post...

lafrancaise

Question Author

Not the owl, the pergola!! sorry I'm not with it this morning!