Woodpeckers pecking are almost always targeting something in the wood. My guess is  you have some kind of insect that must be living in the siding if the woodpeckers are working large areas and not creating nests. You can read up on why taking away the woodpecker food will really help in our WOODPECKER article.

But since their season is about to start, I suggest you get some ATTACK SPIDERS installed around the home. These work really well and will stop any bird from actively landing where these spiders are deployed.

I also suggest setting out some BIRD TAPE to cover the peripheral areas where you don't necessarily need a spider. So if you set these two deterrents out now and followup by trying to figure out what it is the woodpeckers are seeking, you should be able to make the home woodpecker proof and keep them away for good.

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

Attack Spider: http://www.bugspraycart.com/repellents/visual/attack-spider-w18-line

Bird Tape: http://www.bugspraycart.com/repellents/visual/irritape-bird-ribbon-25-ft

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

I'm not sure on using "foil" but I do know two things that will.

If you only have 1-2 trees where they're active, hanging a JUMPING SPIDER close to where they land will assuredly keep them away. IN most cases they'll start foraging elsewhere and within a week you can take down the spiders using them as needed throughout the year.

Another option is to lightly wipe down the trunk and tree limbs they're using with some 4-T-B REPELLENT. It's a non drying glue like product that lasts a few months. They won't like landing on it and will avoid any place it's applied.

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

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

4-T-B Repellent:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page175.html

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 usually look for food in wood and if you have some kind of insect nesting in your siding, he could be pecking out the bugs. When feeding their holes and pecking will be all over the house though usually in one main region or side. Now if there only appears to be one main hole like you're describing, it's more likely this bird is trying to make  nest.

I suggest you view our woodpecker control video below which shows how to install one of our ATTACK SPIDERS. This is a visual deterrent that does a great job of scaring away unwanted animals like woodpeckers. Installed above the hole but close enough to reach it when activated, the moving action of the spider will keep this bird away. It usually only takes a couple of encounters and the unwanted pecking will cease.

Here is a direct link the Attack Spider and some other Bird Control Product options:

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

Bird Control products:  http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page80.html#1658

Woodpeckers, like other birds, get territorial from time to time every year. During this time they instinctively establish territories and will even confront birds they see in what they believe to be "their turf". Windows can reflect images and many times birds will see themselves but mistake the image to be another bird. This is most likely what's happening at your house.

Generally this wouldn't be a major problem and since it only lasts a short while, there is a good chance the activity will stop. But in many cases the bird will get conditioned to seeing his reflection and if left to go on "fighting" with himself, the behavior can continue much longer than normal. This is when it becomes a problem.

The best way to deal with this behavior is to set out some Bird Tape which are featured in our Woodpecker Control article. Set some up over each window and any window where the pecking is happening. If the Tape doesn't do the trick, set out a Jumping Spider. This will definitely get them to move away.

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

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

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

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

Most species of woodpeckers will "sound" during the spring as described in our Woodpecker Control article. This could be a random thing but many times they will tend to use one side or section of the house. You should be able to get them to move away by installing a Jumping Spider or Bird Tape. These visual/motion deterrents do a good job of alarming woodpeckers and make them uncomfortable enough to get them to go elsewhere. I suggest you set either or both of these repelling devices up where he is most active and see if you can get him to stay away.

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

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

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

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

Woodpeckers will peck at wood mostly looking for food. At certain times of the year, they peck to make sound. This sound is both establishing their territory as well as a way to communicate with members of the opposite sex. When something like metal is found, if it makes a loud noise when pecked the woodpecker will probably keep at it till you put something in place to repel it from the area. This could be our Moving Spider or our Bird Tape. We've had good results with both. You can find more details in our Wood Pecker Control article.

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

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

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

Wood Pecker Control:  http://www.woodpecker-control.com/woodpecker-control

Woodpeckers will be "sounding" like this most every spring as explained in our Woodpecker Pecking article. Fortunately this should only be a problem in the spring, around mating time, but in some cases it does persist if the woodpecker is left to do as it wishes. There are a few things you can do to keep him away. We've had good results with both the Bird Tape and the Moving Spider. Set these up just above the fixture and they will make him stay away. Take them down after 2 weeks and in most cases he won't return but if he does, keep installing the devices as needed till he's gone for good.

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

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

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

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