Woodpeckers will commonly peck in search of food. Cedar commonly gets infested with Carpenterbees, Carpenterants, Powderpost Beetles and Woodwasps. Additional sources of food include Boxelder Bugs, Asian Ladybugs and Stinkbugs. These invasive insects will readily move onto structures every fall seeking shelter from the soon to arrive winter season. Though these insects don't bore into the wood, they will many times get up under the siding. Their presence alone will attract woodpeckers which do what they know best to get the "pot of gold" behind the siding. This approach is what you refer to as "putting holes through the siding" but to them, it's just another day looking foraging for a meal.

To stop this behavior, you'll find several products we have listed in our WOODPECKER CONTROL article. The easisest device to employ would be our JUMPING SPIDER. When combined with BIRD TAPE, most woodpeckers can be scared away effectively. 4-THE-BIRDS GEL is another great product to employ. Woodpeckers will readily avoid treated areas for good once they encounter a little bit of this gooey gel.

Based on what you describe, it could be the woodpeckers landing on your home are in fact attempting to nest. This commonly is the case when they insist on "reopening" holes you close. To stop them for good, apply 4-The-Birds to the area after you fix it. Install some Jumping Spiders on either side of the chimney and I'm sure they'll be gone for good.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Carpenter Bee Article: http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control

Carpenter Ant Article: http://www.carpenterants.com/carpenter-ant-control

Powderpost Beetle Article: http://www.powderpostbeetles.com/powderpost-beetle-control

Woodwasps: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1601.html

Boxelder Bugs: http://www.bugspray.com/articles98/boxelder.html

Asian Ladybugs: http://www.asianladybug.com/asian-lady-bug-control

Stinkbugs: http://www.bugspray.com/article/stinkbug.html

Woodpecker Control: http://www.woodpecker-control.com/woodpecker-control

Jumping Spider: http://www.woodpecker-control.com/woodpecker-control

Bird Tape: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page547.html

4-The-Birds-Gel: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page81.html

Not sure about the netting but we have had good success using the Jumping Spider. Some people have gotten a roll of the Bird Tape and when used in conjuction with the Spider, have gotten good results.

On a side note, we've seen woodpeckers attracted to Carpenter Bees as well as Ladybugs so you may need to do some treating for them too. Woodpecker control is really about "controlling" the things they want!

Here are direct links to the information and products mentioned above:

Jumping Spider:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1658.html

Bird Tape:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page547.html

Carpenter Bee Article:  http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control

Ladybug Article:  http://www.asianladybug.com/asian-lady-bug-control