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Bluebirds/Scaring Woodpeckers away from my house

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 2/17/2006


Question
For some strange reason, a woodpecker is pecking at the stucco trim on my house.  Can I install a realistic plastic owl to scare it away?

Answer
Hi Alex. This is not an unusual situation. You are lucky it is pecking on the stucco and not punching holes in wooden areas. (Flickers do this in cold weather to get into a building). Woodpeckers will peck on many hard materials, even metal, to make noise to attract mates or to deflect predator attention from their mate when she is on the nest, etc. Fake owls only work very temporarily as the birds soon learn that they are not dangerous. I would suggest that you get a pressure nozzle for your hose so you can spray from a distance and if you are persistent you will discourage him. Good luck. Bob.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

Questions about setting up and monitoring Eastern Bluebird houses. This includes where and how to put up houses, trouble shooting, fighting predators, especially the killer house sparrows and helping other small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Carolina Wrens, etc.

Experience

20 years with a 100+ box Bluebird trail which has been accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail. Talks on Bluebirds to many organizations.

Organizations
North American Bluebird Society, Audubon Society local and national, Oklahoma Bluebird Society, OK Furbearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Birds and Blooms, Oklahoma Today and many other publications.

Education/Credentials
BS, MBA, Cornell University Bird Biology course

Awards and Honors
Blue Cross Ageless Hero, Red Cross Everyday Hero, North American Bluebird Society Awards, Oklahoma Bluebird Society Lifetime Award.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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