There is no need to scare them off. All birds are naturally afraid of people. Woodpeckers are especially "flighty" and will quickly leave as soon as you come within their vision. That being said, I do suggest you install some MOVING SPIDERS but only after you treat the carpenter bee holes. This will insure your home doesn't sustain any more damage because the woodpeckers will no doubt stick around awhile since they now know your home is full of food.

At this point your strategy should be two fold. The first step will be to get some DRIONE DUST and treat all the exposed and obvious carpenter bee holes as explained in our CARPENTER BEE CONTROL article. Once treated, seal them up with the 1/2" CORKS. Next, install some of the Spiders in the same area. They'll protect the wood from further damage. If you treat well enough, the bees and larvae will all be dead within a few days. Larvae hatching over the summer will all die since the Drione will last 6-12 months when treated holes are sealed as we explain.

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

Moving Spiders:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1658.html

Drione Dust:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page256.html

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

1/2" Corks:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page257.html

Woodpeckers will forage for food on the siding of homes. Such areas commonly have carpenter bees or powderpost beetles. The Carpenter bees will drill holes that are long and big like what you described. You can read more about them on line under Carpenterbee Control. If you think you have this bee you must treat the holes as soon as possible. This most likely will chase the wood pecker away.

Once you've done some kind of insect treatment, install some Bird Tape or Moving Spider where the pecking is mostly happening on the house. This should help keep the wood pecker away. Further information about these products and why woodpeckers do this can be found in our Woodpecker Control article.

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

Carpenterbee Control:  http://www.carpenterbees.com/carpenter-bee-control

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

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

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

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