How Discourage Woodpeckers from Damaging House

[amma_mama]

Over the weekend, a pair of woodpeckers decided to start pecking away at our wooden balcony. We recently took a couple of dead trees down (which had evidence of woodpeckers), but left one trunk up, to a safe height, for their benefit...and this is how they repay me?

When I am at home, I am able to scare them away by just walking close to the window next to the balcony. But I cannot be at home all the time and am afraid that they will completely destroy the balcony - they already pecked a nice size hole in one spot. Any ideas on how to discourage/frighten them away, without hurting them?

[hibana]

I know someone who discouraged woodpeckers from attacking wooden siding by affixing rough-cut boards to nearby trees. I think they used fir or cedar boards.

Is your balcony stained & sealed?

[Peony]

We have to attach all sorts of things that move in the wind or shine to keep them away. So windsocks, metal steamers, those type of things. The fake owls only work for a very short time until the birds realize they aren't real. Once a woodpecker really sets in, it can be quite difficult to get them to stop, nipping it in the bud early is the key. 

[amma_mama]

Thanks both! I actually did some Googling after I posted and saw the suggestion for mirrors and other shiny stuff. I put a mirror and some homemade aluminum foil streamers where they were pecking. I think that scared them away. They are more than welcome to enjoy the dead tree we left for them, but need to keep their claws off my house!