Battle of the Birds

I love the spring season; longer days, buds on trees, return of the robin, just to name a few changes that mark the end of winter.  What I don't love is the return of our ever-so-faithful woodpeckers.  We have a school across the street and over the years wood peckers have made their homes in the stucco.  Last count was 30+ holes.  I used to think it was neat to see these birds in action...that was until they discovered our house.  That is when we declared war on the peckers.  Unfortunately all if not fair in this war since they are a migratory bird thus protected.  We've tried pretty much everything from owls that turn their heads and 'hoot', sticky tape, shiny mylar, my mom shooing them away, pebbles...nothing has worked.   But recently Todd discovered the "Bird Gard Pro," a device used across the world and guaranteed to repel problem birds.  Not cheap, but less expensive than new stucco.  After a couple of tweaks and a new "specific woodpecker" chip, we haven't had a pecker on the house in a week (knock on stucco).    What we have had is circling hawks which is interesting as we haven't seen them around here before and they just appeared recently.   Maybe part of the the Bird Gard's tactic is to attract a predatory bird to the neighborhood.  If it works, welcome my friend.

Loud and probably annoying the neighbors, but hey, if it works

Keeping watch