Well, they worked pretty well for about three years or so. As the decoys age, the eyes become dull, and I think that becomes a problem. The lack of movement in relation to the building probably is an issue too. Just this week I had a woodpecker come back and start making holes. So, I think your best option is to replace the decoys before the colors and the eyes fade and to change the placement of the decoy as often as you can.
Great idea ~ now I have to find someone to make the spinning part for me. I was also happy to finally hear someone mention the eyes ~ I think that, and the size of the owl, are an important aspect of deterring birds, that people don't seem to understand. I'm more bothered by crowds of starlings eating all my dove food ~ so, since the doves are more mellow and smarter, I hope the doves will get used to the statue. In any case, I'll be putting the owl where the sunlight hits the eyes the most. Thanks for the video!
I have a cedar sided house and we have a few large woodpeckers that live in the area. My house came with 4 owls already attached. If you want keep the movement going, there is a hole built in the top of the owl. You can tie a string or some coated wire to it and hang it from the eve with an eye hook. It goes as the wind goes and I've had none of those destructive bastards trying to destroy my house.
I have one of those decoys but I didn't really have much luck with it but I didn't have it mounted high like that either. Someone told me if you feed them it will make them stop because they make the holes for bugs to crawl into and they come back later to eat them. That seems to work half way decent. I only need to fix 2 or 3 holes a year now vs 10-20 on my house.
I hear all sort of things, including that woodpeckers just like the sound of certain areas and that's why they peck. I have no idea, but I've just been patching instead of replacing boards because they always seem to come back. I'm going to patch up my holes now and see if this second owl does the trick. But, I've got four more corners so I hope I don't need to mount eight more owls!
Funny coincidence, my pine board sided shed is painted EXACT same color, and wood peckers LOVE this color..🤒🤒. I repaired a Bunch of holes 🕳 today. Identical size. I scared them away 4 years ago with wind chimes, it stop working. I have hung streamers and hanging eye 👁 s.. also trimmed a bunch of branches close to.siding. they are gone now. For now.
If you have asphalt shingles, it may not be the best idea to mount it on the roof itself. Instead, you could perhaps mount it on a fascia or a gutter. If you must put it on the roof, you could carefully lift the edge of one shingle and separate the tab from the others. Then, holding it up, you can tack in a roofing nail or two through a bit of aluminum flashing or other material so that it hangs past the shingle edge. The nail will be covered when you drop the shingle back down, then you can mount something to the flashing hanging out. But, it's a risk that you'll break a shingle, so better to find a different mounting point.
Nail gun selection can be a personal thing because the ergonomics of the gun are important both for accuracy and for ease of use. I do have at least one nail gun review video in the tool section. The major brands are all pretty good, such as Bostich, Hitachi, Senco, Ridged, etc. More important is that you select the right size for the work you are doing and feel comfortable with the gun.
@@enduringcharm Along the lines of the nail guns, I have a set from Porter Cable that came as a package deal from Home Depot, along with their little pancake compressor. Finish Nailer, Brad Nailer, and Stapler. It seams that if I don't overshoot the max pressure specified on each nail gun by 3 to 5 lbs, the fastener doesn't go all the way in. Have you experienced this with other nail guns? Thanks.
Those Porter-Cable guns are not very good. I also got some free guns with various purchases over the years and they sit on a shelf in my shop. The pin nailer is okay, the rest not so much. Use the air pressure that works and don't worry about the guns. The air pressure gauge likely isn't that accurate anyway. I have that same pancake compressor on my trailer and the gauges broke ten years ago. I haven't the faintest idea what pressure I'm running.
The owl didn’t work for me, I have the same one and used to change its location every couple of days. It’s head even swiveled. The owl (or any other bird) is not actually a predator of the woodpecker. They even peck holes through in my asphalt shingles and stuff acorns under the shingle edges. There are literally thousands of oak trees around me yet, they loves destroying houses. The only thing working is a .22 cal pellet rifle with a good scope.
There are regional differences in animal behavior, I'm convinced. The deer in my area are marauding zombie herds and people in other parts of the country can't believe how bad it is. Sounds like you found a solution, though.
It did for a few years. Last autumn I did have one woodpecker who didn't get the message and he made one hole. Possibly the decoy just stayed in one place too long and the birdbrain figured it out.
I saw those too, but I was concerned about durability. They looked like they might not last, and I was picturing a broken owl head on the ground while the woodpeckers drilled new holes in my barn!
I had a woodpecker that would arrive early in the morning almost everyday and peck on my aluminum gutters. Annoying to say the least. I purchased an Owl and hung it from my gutter with fishing line. Seemed to do the trick until the fishing line broke LOL. Have him in a tree now facing the house... hear the woodpecker at the neighbors house, but he steers clear of our house.
Our male woodpecker rat-tap-taps on our chimney's metal cap. His "look at me" routine resonates across America from coast to coast. Fortunately, this male mine-is-bigger-than-yours mating call is limited to early spring or he may have gone to the big bird cage in heaven. Our cedar siding also looks like it's used for target practice. I've vetoed the faux owl because my two cats and I like to watch the colorful and cute finches at our feeder. However, I suspect the cats and I have differing motivations for this activity. Have you noticed if your faux owl has frightened away ALL your birds?
I'm sure it depends on your region, the owl, and the cleverness of the birds. I've had good luck so far, except for one bird who figured it out and put a couple new holes in the siding. Still, two holes in three years is a win. I was getting a few holes a week before the owls.
It's true, I may have just shifted them to the next corner. I guess I'll find out. After this maybe I'll get a live owl who can fly to the next corner!
You do not have a woodpecker problem. You have some insect eating the wood your shed is made from problem. The woodpecker is trying to help with your problem, although its methodology is also destructive. If you do not get rid of those wood ants, termites, wood beetles, or other pests, you are still going to have problems down the road.
That's a popular idea, but it just isn't true. This structure in the video does not have insects, and I could show you many examples over the years of woodpecker damage I repaired without finding insects. In fact, I commonly hear woodpeckers pecking on aluminum gutters, aluminum or PVC trim, stucco, and other materials with no chance of insects. From what I've read, this behavior has to do with marking territory and/or mating calls and is sometimes referred to as drumming.
![Yeat & Summrs - GO2WORK [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NEFEwfPcXRA/mqdefault.jpg)
Well... it's been four years... we need an update! :) Thanks!
Well, they worked pretty well for about three years or so. As the decoys age, the eyes become dull, and I think that becomes a problem. The lack of movement in relation to the building probably is an issue too. Just this week I had a woodpecker come back and start making holes. So, I think your best option is to replace the decoys before the colors and the eyes fade and to change the placement of the decoy as often as you can.
Great idea ~ now I have to find someone to make the spinning part for me. I was also happy to finally hear someone mention the eyes ~ I think that, and the size of the owl, are an important aspect of deterring birds, that people don't seem to understand. I'm more bothered by crowds of starlings eating all my dove food ~ so, since the doves are more mellow and smarter, I hope the doves will get used to the statue. In any case, I'll be putting the owl where the sunlight hits the eyes the most. Thanks for the video!
I have a cedar sided house and we have a few large woodpeckers that live in the area. My house came with 4 owls already attached. If you want keep the movement going, there is a hole built in the top of the owl. You can tie a string or some coated wire to it and hang it from the eve with an eye hook. It goes as the wind goes and I've had none of those destructive bastards trying to destroy my house.
Good idea!
I have one of those decoys but I didn't really have much luck with it but I didn't have it mounted high like that either. Someone told me if you feed them it will make them stop because they make the holes for bugs to crawl into and they come back later to eat them. That seems to work half way decent. I only need to fix 2 or 3 holes a year now vs 10-20 on my house.
I hear all sort of things, including that woodpeckers just like the sound of certain areas and that's why they peck. I have no idea, but I've just been patching instead of replacing boards because they always seem to come back. I'm going to patch up my holes now and see if this second owl does the trick. But, I've got four more corners so I hope I don't need to mount eight more owls!
Absolutely! Plenty of owls, not a single woodpecker here in Australia!
Funny coincidence, my pine board sided shed is painted EXACT same color, and wood peckers LOVE this color..🤒🤒. I repaired a Bunch of holes 🕳 today. Identical size. I scared them away 4 years ago with wind chimes, it stop working. I have hung streamers and hanging eye 👁 s.. also trimmed a bunch of branches close to.siding. they are gone now. For now.
Yeah, the little buggers tend to figure out what is a real threat what is not, and eventually they come back to make new holes!
What’s the best way to mount it on the roof without causing damage to the shingles?
If you have asphalt shingles, it may not be the best idea to mount it on the roof itself. Instead, you could perhaps mount it on a fascia or a gutter. If you must put it on the roof, you could carefully lift the edge of one shingle and separate the tab from the others. Then, holding it up, you can tack in a roofing nail or two through a bit of aluminum flashing or other material so that it hangs past the shingle edge. The nail will be covered when you drop the shingle back down, then you can mount something to the flashing hanging out. But, it's a risk that you'll break a shingle, so better to find a different mounting point.
Nice, effective and even decorative! On a different note, please provide your favorite nail gun(s) information. I need one.
Nail gun selection can be a personal thing because the ergonomics of the gun are important both for accuracy and for ease of use. I do have at least one nail gun review video in the tool section. The major brands are all pretty good, such as Bostich, Hitachi, Senco, Ridged, etc. More important is that you select the right size for the work you are doing and feel comfortable with the gun.
@@enduringcharm Along the lines of the nail guns, I have a set from Porter Cable that came as a package deal from Home Depot, along with their little pancake compressor. Finish Nailer, Brad Nailer, and Stapler. It seams that if I don't overshoot the max pressure specified on each nail gun by 3 to 5 lbs, the fastener doesn't go all the way in. Have you experienced this with other nail guns? Thanks.
Those Porter-Cable guns are not very good. I also got some free guns with various purchases over the years and they sit on a shelf in my shop. The pin nailer is okay, the rest not so much. Use the air pressure that works and don't worry about the guns. The air pressure gauge likely isn't that accurate anyway. I have that same pancake compressor on my trailer and the gauges broke ten years ago. I haven't the faintest idea what pressure I'm running.
@@enduringcharm Thanks!
The owl didn’t work for me, I have the same one and used to change its location every couple of days. It’s head even swiveled. The owl (or any other bird) is not actually a predator of the woodpecker. They even peck holes through in my asphalt shingles and stuff acorns under the shingle edges. There are literally thousands of oak trees around me yet, they loves destroying houses. The only thing working is a .22 cal pellet rifle with a good scope.
There are regional differences in animal behavior, I'm convinced. The deer in my area are marauding zombie herds and people in other parts of the country can't believe how bad it is. Sounds like you found a solution, though.
Curious why you decided to put a sqare peg in a round hole. Wouldn't a dowel seem more reasonable?
You mean for the upright post? It just happened to be what scrap I had around that day. You could use a dowel if you like.
Do you think the decoy will bother the actual real owl we have?..... because we want him to stay
I don't know, but it sounds like your real owl is sleeping on the job if you need a decoy!
So did it work?
It did for a few years. Last autumn I did have one woodpecker who didn't get the message and he made one hole. Possibly the decoy just stayed in one place too long and the birdbrain figured it out.
I loved it ☺🤗
there are plastic owls that have moving heads so you could always buy some of those too.
I saw those too, but I was concerned about durability. They looked like they might not last, and I was picturing a broken owl head on the ground while the woodpeckers drilled new holes in my barn!
I had a woodpecker that would arrive early in the morning almost everyday and peck on my aluminum gutters. Annoying to say the least. I purchased an Owl and hung it from my gutter with fishing line. Seemed to do the trick until the fishing line broke LOL. Have him in a tree now facing the house... hear the woodpecker at the neighbors house, but he steers clear of our house.
Yeah, I hear the gutter-peckers in our neighborhood too! What a racket. They mush have mush for brains.
Our male woodpecker rat-tap-taps on our chimney's metal cap. His "look at me" routine resonates across America from coast to coast. Fortunately, this male mine-is-bigger-than-yours mating call is limited to early spring or he may have gone to the big bird cage in heaven.
Our cedar siding also looks like it's used for target practice. I've vetoed the faux owl because my two cats and I like to watch the colorful and cute finches at our feeder. However, I suspect the cats and I have differing motivations for this activity.
Have you noticed if your faux owl has frightened away ALL your birds?
It's been 4 years, I demand an update! :) lol
If you keep the decoy moving once in awhile, it will work indefinitely. If it stays in the same spot, the woodpeckers eventually figure it out.
... “who” knew?
This definitely does not work. I’ve got a woodpecker putting numerous wholes in my house 10 feet away from a nice owl, very real looking!
I'm sure it depends on your region, the owl, and the cleverness of the birds. I've had good luck so far, except for one bird who figured it out and put a couple new holes in the siding. Still, two holes in three years is a win. I was getting a few holes a week before the owls.
might need to buy 6 more on each corner otherwise they start pecking on the empty owl
It's true, I may have just shifted them to the next corner. I guess I'll find out. After this maybe I'll get a live owl who can fly to the next corner!
Why not just get a 2 sided owl🤔🤔🤔
With some glue you could probably make one!
You do not have a woodpecker problem. You have some insect eating the wood your shed is made from problem. The woodpecker is trying to help with your problem, although its methodology is also destructive. If you do not get rid of those wood ants, termites, wood beetles, or other pests, you are still going to have problems down the road.
That's a popular idea, but it just isn't true. This structure in the video does not have insects, and I could show you many examples over the years of woodpecker damage I repaired without finding insects. In fact, I commonly hear woodpeckers pecking on aluminum gutters, aluminum or PVC trim, stucco, and other materials with no chance of insects. From what I've read, this behavior has to do with marking territory and/or mating calls and is sometimes referred to as drumming.
@@enduringcharm Learn something every day. Thanks for the info.