John, good luck with this! I wish we had woodpeckers in our garden.
This year I am being driven mad by the grey squirrels digging up and eating the tulip bulbs I planted. They have made holes in the lawn, as well as the flowerbeds. This is the worst year ever, but not surprised as I read the grey squirrel population is increasing.
I tried putting down coffee on the earth to keep them away, but when the rain washed it away, the squirrels were back, sitting on the fence chewing the bulbs they had dug up. As a final resort I have covered the flower beds with wire netting and this, hopefully, has been successful. I saw them scampering elsewhere. Maybe you could wrap netting around the feeders? The birds could still perch on it but the squirrels don’t like it.
Martine Guy ● 11d