Darn it, sorry about the losses.

I made a simple blow gun that works well on birds. But luckily I haven't had much of a problem yet with them in the garden...however if they do this year I will be ready. :D

Flickers are not seed eaters. Typically they eat ants and beetles. They help control some insects and are not a bad thing to have in your garden.

go get some of those rubber snakes that kids play with and i got a blow up owl / cant remeber were i got it at / but put them out and move them around like every day or so

chinamigarden - Flickers will eat seeds and fruit. They do a lot of bug-hunting on the ground, chiseling holes into the dirt looking for ant colonies and seedlings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Flicker#Diet

I have a chickenwire tent over the new seed plantings. That should slow them down. Now if I can only get the male to quit hammering on the AC ducts at dawn.

That is my reason for using Wall 'O Waters. Not so much with the intended use of moderating temperature fluctuations.
More as a plant protector against wind, birds, and other invasive creatures.

I had the same thing happen... 2 tomato plant's heads ripped off in a number of hours except it was my 'danged' (I would like to use a more offensive word) ducks... most likely Henrietta. Brat. If she wasn't so cute I'd cull her a$$. (Not really. I love her but she tries my temper at times.) ;)

I'm covering the rest with cloches made of milk jugs.

There is yet another preventive measure, easy and inexpensive:
Get some nylon tulle (French tulle) from fabrics store
and thow needed size on your seeds or seedlings.
It is very light weight, rain and wind proof and won't shade.
Birds, rats, rabbits wont bother with gettin tangled up with it.