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Get Rid of Woodpeckers- 10 Humane Ways to Do It Posted: 22 Jul 2022 03:23 AM PDT Starting your day by hearing the cheery chirping of birds will set you in a good mood. However, nobody likes listening to the constant tapping of woodpeckers because we all know what that means- property damage.    It's easy to see why many homeowners consider woodpeckers pests and why they want to get rid of them. These birds, as annoying as they can be, are protected species because of their critical role in the ecosystems.    Protected or not, all animals must be treated humanely, so if you are planning to get rid of these birds away from your property, here are seven ways to do it effectively yet in a humane way:    Remove their food sources A significant part of a woodpecker's diet is insects. As omnivores, they eat termites, ants, and bee infestations that could hide behind your walls. As a result, they are fixated on pecking your house to get to this food source. What can you do? First, confirm if there are any insect infestations in your home. This includes examining the appearance of any holes, checking the surrounding areas for any signs of infestation, and checking to see if you spot any live insects crawling on your walls to their nest.    Once you see and confirm an infestation, use a pesticide specific to the insect to get rid of it. Ensure you're only targeting the infestation and not affecting other living creatures around it. Also, use safety protocols on the label to protect your family and pets from the chemicals. If the infestation is severe, you may need to call professional exterminators.    Install a decoy woodpecker predator What eats woodpeckers? Foxes, coyotes, and other large birds of prey. However, it's not practical to train and keep foxes and coyotes in your garden, but you can buy products that look and move like a woodpecker's natural predators. These decoys are available in home improvement stores, gardening centers, and online platforms such as Amazon. These decoys look very realistic and life-size and are excellent deterrents for woodpeckers. Some come with life-like movements to scare the birds away and are battery-operated or solar-powered.    Install a decoy woodpecker feeder If you don't have a big garden to move the birds away from your house and to the trees, you can also try a woodpecker feeder. This way, from pecking at your house, they get to peck on tasty treats from the feeder. By providing them with a better source of food away from your home, you encourage them to nest far away from your home.  One of the most effective feeders for woodpeckers is suet. Suet is made from a mix of vegetables, seeds, fruits, and insects mixed with rendered animal fat, called suet cakes. These cakes are then solidified into blocks and kept in suet feeders. Suet feeders are typically hung from branches. It's a perfect way to attract woodpeckers because they can grip the grills and peck at the food- their natural feeding position. When buying suet cakes for woodpeckers, check the label to see if it is specially made for these birds.    Planning your garden If your area is prone to woodpeckers, one sustainable and humane way to deter them would be to strategically plan your garden with fruit trees and berry bushes that discourage woodpeckers from hammering away at your walls. Choose a planting area a reasonable distance from your home, and start creating a perimeter of shrubs, bushes, and trees to encourage birds to congregate there instead of near your walls. Next, you want to think about the type of fruits and berries to plant that will convince woodpeckers to move away from your walls, stay around the trees all year round. The suitable fruit trees and shrubs will bear fruit for the woodpeckers, attract insects that also serve as food, and have fresh and healthy fruits and berries for your table.  Removing roosting spots Is your home comfortable as a place for woodpeckers to roost? Apart from holes, nests are a major havoc by woodpeckers. You might want to look at the fences, roofs, eaves, and other horizontal surfaces in your home and remove them. If the woodpeckers find these places and get familiar with them, they will likely roost on your property. Removing roosting areas is a practical yet straightforward method of controlling woodpecker visits. You can also install bird spikes made out of plastic in areas prone to woodpeckers. Plastic bird spikes prevent birds from gripping and settling in and are an effective physical barrier to protect your home.    Use reflection Scaring woodpeckers using reflection is another humane way to get rid of them. You can try installing things that reflect light, such as old CDs, aluminum foil, and tiny mirrors. Birds rely on the sense of light, so shiny and bright objects that reflect light are easily and immediately noticed and can be alarming for them. To achieve this effect, hang reflective surfaces on a string so they can move freely in the wind. You can also use reflective tape to create striking light flashes and a crinkling sound in the wind. Alternatively, you can also purchase reflective pinwheels that do the job and look great when the wind blows. It's ideal to use in the garden, potted plants, balconies, and windows.    Fill up the holes in your house Find holes and cover them up. Holes and crevices tell birds that the wood is soft and easily destroyed to create an ideal place to nest. To prevent this, fill empty holes to discourage woodpeckers from carving their nests and housing their young. You can fill these holes with wood putty, foam, and screens. You can also use black foam to cover up holes. The foam is administered through a foam gun; it solidifies and leaves a black filling. The surface can be sanded and painted to match your home's aesthetics. Copper mesh is also another way to cover holes. These are pliable, strong materials that can be manipulated to fit any hole or shape. You cut off a piece, crumple it to fit the spot, and adjust the mesh for a perfect fit. Because the copper mesh is rust-proof and stain-proof, there is little need for maintenance. The post Get Rid of Woodpeckers- 10 Humane Ways to Do It appeared first on Residence Style.

Moving House in 2022? Follow This Essential Checklist Posted: 22 Jul 2022 02:25 AM PDT First and foremost, congrats on your new house purchase. This is the beginning of a brand new adventure. Whether you’ve been waiting a few weeks, months, or years, the notion of moving is always welcomed with a mixture of intimidating dread (packing, eek!) and excitement at the prospect of settling into your new home. That being said, there are several things you can do to make the dreaded chore of packing a little easier – and almost all of them revolve around organisation. But, of course, if you’re reading this, you’re already halfway there, and this moving house checklist will assist you in ensuring that everything is in order as you book your removal company, arrange self-storage, and put your life into boxes and bags. The Checklist ONE-TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE MOVE  If you’re already renting, this is the time to organise your affairs and confirm that you’ve followed the notice and moving procedures outlined in your contract. Begin changing your address information with HMRC, internet providers, landline suppliers, TV providers, gas providers, and so on. Collect boxes from friends and family, as well as local grocers and other businesses. Contact your selected moving company to reserve a van for your chosen relocation day. You’d be surprised how far in advance moving vans are booked! Contact a company to arrange self storage for items that you don't need straight away but don't want to throw out.  A reputable self storage company will be able to offer you various size storage containers for your belongings and you can rest assured that they will be kept dry and secure. Examine the parking situation at your new home and warn any nearby businesses or neighbours that a moving van will be parked outside for a few hours on the day. Register your new address with the council so you may vote and begin paying council tax right away (you don’t want to be surprised with a backdated bill a few months later!) Inform your house insurance provider of your relocation. Make arrangements with Royal Mail to have your mail diverted. Begin arranging and labelling boxes in various rooms in preparation for packing. You can also begin packing items now, particularly ones you don’t use every day. Declutter. You don’t need to bring it to your new home if you haven’t used it in the last year. Begin cleaning both inside and outside of your buildings and areas. THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE YOUR MOVE Contact your chosen moving company again to confirm the specifics, including your existing (soon-to-be-outdated) address, your new location, and the day and time of the move. Arrange for childcare and, if applicable, pet care on the day of the relocation to assist reduce stress. If required, request a day off from work on moving day. Notify the remaining parties of your move, including DLVA for your driver’s licence, GP, TV licence, and so on. Go through any leftover fresh or frozen food in the fridge/freezer that you won’t be able to take with you. Pack belongings from the same room in the same boxes to guarantee that when boxes are transported into your new home, they end up in the correct room. In continuation of the preceding point, identify each box with the designated room (and what’s inside). Wrap any delicate or fragile things in bubble wrap to keep them safe throughout the relocation. Begin deconstructing furniture that will need to be disassembled for the move, such as tables and desks. Schedule any cleaning services you require before relocating to ensure that your home is in good condition (particularly if you’re renting!) Make a list of all the contacts you’ll need in your new home’s first few days. Finish any washing you have to prevent having to move a bunch of filthy clothes. MOVING DAY Move in an orderly and planned manner, instructing your moving company on which rooms to empty first and supplying them with a layout or list of where each box will go in the new home. Before you leave, do a final sweep of the property. Lock all doors and windows, and read any power and water metres in the house so you have a record of the readings on your last day Pick up the keys to your new house and get ready for a new adventure! DON'T FORGET … Believe this or not, all of these are essentials that we frequently see left behind or overlooked all through the moving process. Don’t forget to check all the power sockets for renegade chargers and to clear all those secret hiding spaces around the house. Important documents, such as marriage and birth certificates, bank statements, passports, and household paperwork  Laptops, phones, chargers, and other plug-ins  Toolboxes and other tools  Medication  Cash or cheques that may be lying around or hidden Moving is a journey that is made considerably easier by organisation, planning and management – and we hope that this checklist will give you a solid understanding of what needs to be done and at what stage of the whole process. The post Moving House in 2022? Follow This Essential Checklist appeared first on Residence Style.

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