How to Install Woodpecker Deterrents on Telephone Poles!

Keeping woodpeckers away from telephone & utility poles should be approached like any other bird control campaign. Timing is critical as woodpeckers are more apt to leave a briefly occupied site rather than an established roost. Also, keep in mind that all woodpecker scare products work best when used in combination with each other as they increase the bird’s fear and flight response to the perceived predator threat.

Pileated woodpecker on a utility pole.

The most common woodpecker species & the damage caused to utility poles

The United States is home to a variety of woodpeckers, but the most common damage-causing woodpeckers to telephone poles are: the red-bellied woodpecker, acorn woodpecker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker and the pileated woodpecker. The damage caused by these pest birds is not only unsightly, but it creates a safety hazard for the linesmen who have to climb these weakened structures. The primary cause of damage to power poles is caused when woodpeckers create a nesting or food storage cavity in the poles. The resulting damage is often so severe that utility workers cannot make needed repairs. Moreover, left unchecked, the pole will either fall down or be so deteriorated that it would be impossible to climb.

Woodpecker telephone pole deterrents and how to install them  
 
The key to successfully keeping woodpeckers off of wooden utility poles is to use a combination of woodpecker scare products and when possible, try to employ the deterrents before the pole becomes as established roosting site.  

Holographic Owl with swivel bracket on a power pole.

Woodpecker Decoy Life-Life Woodpecker Deterrent

Start by locating the area where the woodpeckers are drilling. If there is more than one location on the pole, then that will also have to be addressed. Once the woodpecker problem areas are established, mount the new Woodpecker Decoy Effigy Life-Life Woodpecker Deterrent near the nesting or drilling location(s). The Woodpecker Decoy Power Pole is a life-size double-sided image of the Pileated Woodpecker has been used successfully on power poles to warn encroaching birds that the pole is 'occupied territory'. 

Next, on the opposite site of the wooden utility pole, install a Gull-Cat Bird Scare Decoy facing downward on the pole or a Holographic Owl with Swivel Bracket. Both of these products have been proven to be highly successful at deterring woodpeckers by reflecting light emissions at the pest birds. The Swivel Bracket is used for mounting because visual bird deterrents are more effective when they are allowed to move freely in the wind and reflect sunlight at the pest birds.

If the telephone pole is an established roosting site with particularly stubborn woodpeckers, we recommend gluing or screwing on Bird Free Bird Repellent Gel or BirdFire Optical Gel pre-loaded dishes around the problem areas. The BirdFire Optical Gel dishes should be spaced about every 6 to 8 inches apart. BirdFire Optical Gel deters woodpeckers by appearing as a flame to approaching birds.

NOTE: Woodpeckers are persistent and territorial. Audio / Visual Re-enforcement is recommended in addition to decoys to create a more realistic impression of predators and competition in the zone you want to protect.

For specific advice, email mark@birdsgottago.com with brief description of roosting conditions.

No single product stands alone; a combination of Bird deterrents must be used with repeated reinforcement as necessary

BirdsGottaGo.com
1-855-741-3222

How do you keep pest birds out of trees & yard!

Keep pest birds out of trees and yards around your home or business with strategic use of bird deterrents.

Pigeons on backyard fence

Do you want to keep birds out of your trees & yard? We can teach you how to solve this pest bird problem. Homeowners typically experience problems with birds like starlings, crows, grackles and pigeons. Want to learn how to move birds without harming them and spending a lot of money? When left unchecked pest birds can ruin patio furniture, adversely affect landscaping, plus clog and foul drain lines and swimming pools. Bird droppings cause unsanitary conditions at patios, decks, balconies and create the potential for slip and fall accidents. 

How do you get birds out of your trees?

  

Depending upon the height of your trees and how severe the bird infestation is, there are a variety of steps you can take to move the birds away from the trees. To tackle this problem you should use a combination of bird control products including audio, visual bird scare devices and structural bird control devices.

Structural bird products for trees

Tree Shock Bird Deterrent

If you have access to the tree branches a bird control product called “Tree Shock” should be installed at the primary and secondary branches. The harmless electrical shock will condition the birds to roost elsewhere. Tree Shock is a low profile electrified tubing that is effective against all species of birds. The Tree Shock System is battery operated and is easy to install. Structural bird control products are highly effective.

After installing Tree Shock it is important to create an unwelcoming zone for the birds by strategically placing visual products in and around the trees and yard. When possible try to figure out the direction the birds are coming from and hang visual deterrents in the flight path. 

Visual bird deterrents for trees & Yard

Visual bird deterrents work on bird’s predatory fear of sudden movement and predator effigies. A variety of visual deterrents like the Holographic Owl, Attack Eagle Bird Deterrent, Firefly II, Holographic Repel Strips, Scare Eye Balloons, Scare Eye Octopus, Mylar Flash Tape can be

 

Holographic Owl with Swivel Bracket

 

 

 

mounted and positioned with the Swivel Bracket or tied to branches. Visual deterrents should be allowed to move freely in the wind. If needed a Whip Rod Swivel kit can be used to place a visual deterrent in the yard.  A new highly effective bird scare device called the Flying Falcon Bird Diverter can be flown up to 300’ in the air above the yard to deter incoming flocks.

The Gull-Cat Bird Deterrent Scares Birds can also be placed on a tree branch or  patio to help keep away pest birds. Along with a Gull-Cat Bird Deterrent theBird Free Bird Repellent Gel or BirdFire Optical Bird Gel Repellent pre-loaded dishes can be glued or taped along branches or fence lines . BirdFire Optical Gel affects all pest bird species by triggering multiple sensory responses. If you are unlucky enough to have vultures roosting in your trees, try hanging Dead Vulture Decoy Effigy's from the branches. Do you have crows in your trees, add the Dead Crow Bird Scare Decoy along with other bird scare devices. Problem with Seagulls, gulls sitting on your roof edge, try hanging the new Dead Seagull Bird Deterrent in the death position.

 

Bird Chaser Bird Deterrent -want to move flocks of crows out of trees or off power lines, the ground-breaking Bird Chaser bird deterrent is a visual bird scare device that deters problem crows & starlings from unwanted areas by reflecting irregular light beams from the sun.

 
For birds in the middle of the yard or in a swimming pool position the Spray Away’ or “Spray Away Elite” near the problem area. The Spray Away system is a motion-activated bird deterrent that harmlessly blasts birds with water.   

 

Audio Bird Deterrents for trees & yard

Bird Gard Electronic Repeller

There are a wide array of audio deterrent systems. Most are programmed with species-specific alarm,  distress, raptor sounds.  The Bird Gard Pro Electronic Repeller is a easy to use homeowner bird deterrent system that can be set up to help keep birds out of trees and yard. The Bird Gard system should be programmed for the problem bird and the time of day when the pest birds are a problem. Large areas may require the Bird Squawker or Vineyard Bird Wailer. These bird scare devices will protect several acres of trees or property, but are not designed for the typical homeowner.

Birds on houses overlooking the trees.

If the birds are also nesting or roosting on your house it is advisable to install exclusionary type structural products like Bird Spikes, Bird Shock, Bird Wire or Bird Coil. Disrupting these prime roosting conditions will often encourage the birds to move away. Reinforce with the Winged Scare Owl for added protection. 

For specific advice, email mark@birdsgottago.com with brief description of roosting conditions.

No single product stands alone; a combination of Bird deterrents must be used with repeated reinforcement as necessary

BirdsGottaGo.com
1-855-741-3222