While many people may enjoy birdwatching or the sound of birds chirping outside, some birds can actually cause a lot of headaches for homeowners. This includes woodpecker damage or other birds pecking holes in your home’s siding, leaving many people to wonder how they can deter these creatures. Many laws are in place to protect birds, preventing us from harming them or removing their nests. However, there are actions you can take to deter and repel them away from your home.

Why Are Birds Destroying My Home’s Siding?

Due to many factors, such as genetics or survival instincts, there are a few different reasons why birds–like woodpeckers or flickers, to name a few–are pecking holes into the siding of your home. These may include:

• Food: If you notice birds pecking at the side of your home, you could have a pest infestation on your hands. An infestation is a signal to birds that there could possibly be food for them, such as larvae, ants, or other insects that dwell in wood. Additionally, if your home’s siding has dry rot and is starting to decay, it’s especially susceptible to infestations that birds may find attractive.
• Nesting: While most birds rely on the use of grass and twigs to build their homes, woodpeckers use their ability to carve wood as an opportunity to construct their nests.
• Seasonal Signalling: In the springtime, woodpeckers will peck on your siding to attract mates or intimidate other birds.
• Genetics: Woodpeckers and flickers are programmed to peck due to their strong necks, and their skulls act as natural shock absorbers. Because of this, a single woodpecker can peck 10,000 times a day without causing harm to itself.

If you notice that birds are destroying the siding of your home, there are ways that you can prevent birds from coming back or sticking around. It is best to promptly take these steps and repair the damage to your siding as soon as possible.

4 Ways to Deter Birds From Your Home

You can prevent birds from hanging around your house in various ways. From installing sprays in which the smell repels woodpeckers to using spikes or statues to scare them away, here are some tips on how to protect your siding from bird damage.

1. Install Bird Spikes

Bird spikes are long, needle-like sticks usually made from tin or plastic that can keep birds away from your house. You can purchase these spikes from hardware stores or make them yourself by hammering nails into the wood. 

If store-bought, you will need to hang the spikes with wire to get them to stay on your house siding. Woodpeckers find sharp objects uncomfortable and will not want to land on them.

2. Try Repellant Sprays

Similar to bird spikes, there are repellent sprays you can either buy or make at home that ward off birds.

If you want to make the repellent yourself, try crushing dried red or green chili peppers into a mixture of water and vinegar, and then heat it. You can either heat the mixture in a crock pot for a few hours or leave it in a glass container in the sunlight. 

Once you have the repellent, pour it into a plant mister and spray it on your home’s siding where the birds are causing damage. The smell will then deter nuisance birds away from the area.

3. Use Predator Statues or Shiny Objects

Birds fear many predators, including cats, owls, and larger birds. Placing objects or statues resembling these predators can help scare away woodpeckers or flickers that are destroying your home’s siding. Make sure you choose statues that will withstand nature’s elements, such as wind and water. Your best option will be metal instead of wood, since the birds may peck on the wood.

Along with using predators to scare away woodpeckers, you can also rely on shiny objects to place around your house. Items such as CDs, aluminum cans, tin foil, or mirrors will reflect light and prevent birds from damaging your siding.

4. Call Animal or Pest Control

If none of the above tips work, your best bet is to call animal or pest control. There are several organizations in your area that can help relieve problems related to birds destroying your home’s siding or pest infestations. 

Whether they give you tools or advice on how to handle the problem yourself, or they decide to take matters into their own hands, having experts involved is always beneficial. These professionals know how much of a nuisance woodpeckers and flickers can be to homeowners and are here to help.

Replacing Your Home’s Siding

If birds have damaged the siding of your home, you will need to repair or replace your siding, especially if you are looking for a long-term solution to woodpecker damage. 

Stateline Exteriors is a local expert in siding repair and replacement, and we can help by installing woodpecker-resistant siding. 

Contact us today and let our team make the siding of your home shine.