Help me stop a woodpecker

[BKnight3]

I have a very odd problem with my home since last spring. Almost everyother day of spring, early in the morning, a woodpecker decides to fly over to my house and peck at the metal ventilation chimney thingy. I really have no idea why he does it, but he seems to want to do it every other morning.

Now it wouldn't really bother me, but my rather aging grandmother is usually awakened rather terrified from the noise that echos throughout the house. I managed to make him stop for 2 weeks simply throwing rocks when he does, but I would rather have a non-violent, permanent solution because he has started giving his wake up calls again. The bird is mischievous, but beautiful, and i would rather not kill it. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Trooper110]

Can you rig a net to drop at a pull of a string or rope somehow? I don't know how good woodpeckers are with geo-location, but you could haul it 10 miles away and hope it doesn't come back if you can net it.

Although I'd honestly say shoot it, hehe.

[LIMEY]

have mapes over with his R700

[Hawkeye426]

lol but i think that might qualify as VIOLENT

[-IRC-MIKE]

Electrical extension cord frayed on one end, a metal perch for him to sit on with the hot wire taped to it and the neutral wire taped to the aluminum siding. Next time he starts pounding on it, plug in the extension cord for a few minutes at random intervals for a second at a time. If the breaker trips, you wired it up wrong.

[Hammy]

Buy a lawn pinwheel and post it near the problem area.

He wont come near it.

[-IRC-MIKE]

That or pour the lead out of a shotgun shell and fill it full of salt. Be sure to clean the gun thoroughly afterwards.

[-IRC-MIKE]

Buy a lawn pinwheel and post it near the problem area.

He wont come near it.

+1

Or A remote controlled chopper.....

[Trooper110]

Trap door with a wood chipper under it? Oh wait....non-violent....

[Thrashdragon]

A reflective mylar balloon (birthday balloon) will usually scare birds away. They usually don't come back so you wouldn't have to leave it there forever.

[Apache Warrior]

Perch a fake owl on the chimney.
Apache

[Mobojo]

He is doing it because he is horny. Basic a woodpecker will peck at metal to make more noise then pecking on wood to attract a mate. As for a solution, I like the electified siding.

[mapes]

have mapes over with his R700

Discharging a firearm in city limits is illegal...However if you lived within 800 yards of the city border I could still take care of that for you...

[-Bar]

Discharging a firearm in city limits is illegal...However if you lived within 800 yards of the city border I could still take care of that for you...

So is shooting things from your car/truck.... but we do it anyways

[BKnight3]

He is doing it because he is horny. Basic a woodpecker will peck at metal to make more noise then pecking on wood to attract a mate. As for a solution, I like the electified siding.

Well I've done some research, and don't I feel like a cockblock, mobojo is right. It also seems that woodpeckers are indeed, protected by federal law.

I appreciate the suggestions, and am considering some of them. Right now, it looks like I'm going for some deterrents (non-electrical) that were suggested or bringing out my paintball gun and hope I don't hurt him so badly.
It's either that, or hope the little guy gets laid soon.