I have yet to see an established jacquemontii (or any other kind of birch) in this area without sapsucker damage!! Sometimes very extensive damage. Doesn't seem to bother otherwise healthy trees to any significant extent but could make them more vulnerable to other, more serious birch issues.

The issue with wrapping is you would need to cover all the trunk to a significant height. If only partially covered, the sapsuckers will just move to an exposed portion.

Thanks very much. Yes my trees are doing well so far - no die-off of leaves or sign of birch borer beeetle.

One arborist has said that if you wrap the "hot areas" where the birds find sap, they may go up a bit, but if you wrap that, they will usually give up and go somewhere else.

I have extensive damage to three trees, which has been compounded by deer chewing down to the core wood in several places. There are five younger trees nearby that the birds coud enjoy for a while. I am ok with that. The are cute and I can walk right up to them while they eat.

My question is which wraps are good, and how long can I leave them on these trees - I hope for a couple of years - perhaps with periodic switches.

This arborist also recomended 8 - 10" thinwall drain pipe slit lengthwise and attached to the tree with one nail at the bottom - more permanent, and it works well he says. Perhaps a good idea in an off-white color. But I havent found pipe that size and I wonder what schedule number it might be.

Thanks again.

I wouldn't use any plastic in our climate. All that will do is hold moisture against the bark and cause rots. I'd go with burlap and I still would not leave it on long term. The sapsuckers tend to be less active during the summer months so I'd remove any wrapping then, let the tree "air out" and then reapply later if necessary.