Woodpeckers eating my Birch trees

Anybody know how to get rid of a Woodpecker?  It's actually a Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker from what I have read.  It hollowed out a big birch tree in my front yard which killed the tree.  Today I saw and heard one pecking at another birch tree.  I know you can't shoot them but does anyone know of a way to stop them from destroying my trees.  The last tree was completely hollowed out and nothing was left of the trunk but a hollow bark shell about half way up the tree.  These trees are about 20+ years old and I hate to see them destroyed by "Woody".

Here is the easiest way:  Using Flash Tape

This is another scare technique to keep the woodpeckers away from your house and yard. This tape, which is used to scare the birds, is made up of mylar. This looks like a thin shiny ribbon that is silver on one side and colored on the other. Its positioning is done in a very peculiar way so that it reflects the sunlight and flashes it in the bird’s eyes as it tries to come near it (18).

In windy areas, this ribbon will make a sound that resembles rattling. This sound will also help you scare and keep the birds away. Again, this is just a temporary method as the tapes will fly away giving the woodpeckers a chance to penetrate again. So, it is suggested that you protect your surroundings with the prevention methods to keep the situation under control (19).

Select a windy area around your house, along with the already-affected area, and tack a lot of long lengths of this ribbon all around. The wind should be able to move them to make the rattling noise as it is very important in keeping the woodpeckers out of your premises.

Check for any lost ribbons and replace with new ones regularly to keep your scare tactics working. You can also use old CDs and pie tins along with these ribbons to mix the environment up and make it much more complicated for the woodpeckers. Just make sure that the tins can move and spin in the breeze freely.

Here is the easiest way:  Using Flash Tape

This is another scare technique to keep the woodpeckers away from your house and yard. This tape, which is used to scare the birds, is made up of mylar. This looks like a thin shiny ribbon that is silver on one side and colored on the other. Its positioning is done in a very peculiar way so that it reflects the sunlight and flashes it in the bird’s eyes as it tries to come near it (18).

In windy areas, this ribbon will make a sound that resembles rattling. This sound will also help you scare and keep the birds away. Again, this is just a temporary method as the tapes will fly away giving the woodpeckers a chance to penetrate again. So, it is suggested that you protect your surroundings with the prevention methods to keep the situation under control (19).

Select a windy area around your house, along with the already-affected area, and tack a lot of long lengths of this ribbon all around. The wind should be able to move them to make the rattling noise as it is very important in keeping the woodpeckers out of your premises.

Check for any lost ribbons and replace with new ones regularly to keep your scare tactics working. You can also use old CDs and pie tins along with these ribbons to mix the environment up and make it much more complicated for the woodpeckers. Just make sure that the tins can move and spin in the breeze freely.

I have zero idea about whether or not the Mylar strips will deter woodpeckers. I do know that they are used in vineyards and there, they are mostly useless. I've seen crows steal them for whatever reason and I've seen starlings literally standing on one while perched on the wire trellis. Maybe they will work for a woodpecker but I have yet to see a bird deterred by them. That said I know nothing about woodpeckers besides they're annoying good luck.

.22 Bird shot would work too

Put a rat trap in the hole.

Maybe your trees have beetles or insects the birds are after. I know there was a big die off of birch trees in Sonoma County many years ago that was attributed to beetles.

Here are some pictures of woodpecker damage on our cabin.  The first picture shows a hole made by a woodpecker which was not dissuaded by a ceramic woodpecker and a windsock flag which is hanging right around the corner.  Also shown is a large woodpecker hole made at the base of a tree near our cabin.

We haven't found anything which discourages our pesky woodpeckers.  I think to only ways for me prevent woodpecker damage are (a) to re-side the cabin with Hardiplank or some other concrete siding, or (b) a shotgun.

Must have been a lot of food for the bird to make such a large hole in the tree.

They are protected so be careful on how you go about controlling them.

Aren't Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers an eastern species?

-Allen

Danville is in the East Bay.  They might not be that particular species.  The activity in the tree matches up very well with what they do.  I shook the tree yesterday while it was pecking and it flew off.  I haven't heard it since.  I doubt that shaking the tree will resolve it but for now it's gone.  I was able to see a red patch on its head, kind of similar to Woody Woodpecker from the old cartoons.  However, he didn't make the sounds like the cartoon version.  The pecking is pretty loud.

Maybe an animated mechanical owl?

Try feeding them suet cakes or buy some of this and try out. 

There is a woodpecker in our neighborhood that like DirectTV satellite dishes.  It took me awhile to figure out that it wasn't a power tool but a Woodpecker pecking on a satellite dish.

I guess it's common cause there are a few videos on YouTube

Something wrong with this Woodpecker 

Something wrong with this Woodpecker 

+1

We have a bunch of these in our neighborhood
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Acorn_Woodpecker/id
They drill holes all over in the redwood and fir trees, and stuff acorns into the holes. Luckily, they're not interested in drilling holes in the house, and don't seem to do any damage to the trees.