Woodpecker!
 

Any recommendations for getting rid of a woodpecker who likes to blast my metal chimey top every morning at about 7?


Barring humane recommendations I'm also open to suggestions for a pellet gun that is powerful enough but also discreet. <40 feet.

I do live in a very nice city residental block with fretful neighbors, but I've had enough of this guy.

Thanks!!!

I've tried everything, hanging shiny objects and etc. Nothing seems to work and every year I end up replacing a piece of flashing about 40 feet up in the air. So far the best deterrent I've found was training my dog to bark at the thing and he goes away for a bit.

Get him a mate...

Punt gun will do the trick...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432138804.jpg

Assuming the bird is actually sitting on the flat part of the chimney cap...

http://www.amazon.com/Tanglefoot-300000703-Bird-Repellent-Caulking/dp/B000BOC4MW

http://www.amazon.com/Aspectek-Polycarbonate-Bird-Spkes-Feet/dp/B00EJXMJU8/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1432139255&sr=1-1&keywords=bird+spikes

If you are not going to use the fireplace for the season, cover the chimney top with foam rubber or a carpet pad or some such.

You need to make it so its no longer a good amplifier for his mating call.

Just remember to take it off before your next fire!!!!!

Contents of this response not liable for fires caused by failing to remove a flammable substance off a chimney before using fireplace....

Woodpeckers are classified as migratory, nongame birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A federal permit is required before any lethal control methods can be employed. Penalties and fines are assessed to violators.

In addition to the federal permit, citizens must inform the local Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer when, where, and the type of lethal control that will be used. Homeowners must also observe all county and city ordinances.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife - Woodpeckers


Luckily mine left my house, and now likes my neighbors. No idea why. If I could have smashed him I would have.

During the Summer, I have a piece of stainless metal mesh fence that I have fashioned to fit over the chimney cap with to prevent birds from coming down the chimney and dying in the woodburner (not burning, just dusty with no oxygen). It might be a thought to wrap the chimney with a piece of fence with an air gap, so the woodpecker doesn't have anything solid to peck on.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432139866.jpg

They gots wire stuff you can wrap around things and it has smaller wire bristles that prevents birds from landing on it. Bird spikes they call em:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432140164.jpg


http://www.nixalite.com/BirdSpikes.aspx

They can be a problem here too. My underpowered Airsoft pistol is just right for them. Won't kill them. But then I wouldn't want a neighbor to see me doing it either. They are protected.

When I was at Home Depot a few weeks ago they had an electronic hawk sound device that was so realistic that when it went off, I ducked as it sounded like the thing was coming right at me.

I searched for the hawk but could not see any large birds (or any critters for that matter). After a while, I found the electronic sound device. Even after that, when every time it went off, I felt like ducking - it was very realistic and the noise varied from one sound to another.

Then, about a week later I was back at Home Depot. The same sound device went off and I saw two big guys hit the ground. It was very entertaining. They got up and were looking for the hawk and I could see one guy pointing and telling the other guy he could see the hawk up on the roof.

Anyway, it's probably too loud for residential use unless it has a variable volume but I want one. I have a terrible squirrel problem and they are eating up my Japanese Maples.

This hawk thing sounds interesting. Is it controlled by a motion sensor?

HA! First time I heard a woodpecker pecking on a roof vent I thought W...T...F? Every spring they come out and do that and I just ignore it. They do it for a minute or two or five and then they fly off somewhere else.

I chuck ice cubes at them. They fly away. Cubes melt.

This worked for me.

Amazon.com : Bird B Gone Reflective Scare Bird Diverter (Set of 5) : Home Pest Repellents : Patio, Lawn & Garden

We put a humming bird feeder out two years ago and every bird disappeared. Those humming birds are big time territorial and mean. We got rid of the humming bird feeder and it was two weeks before the the regular birds returned.

Fire up the fireplace at 6am?

This! He is horny. Hang some metal higher or get him a date.

I think it was on a timer as it went off about every 10 min.