Sapsucker repellant?

Is there ANYTHING that can be done about sapsuckers?? They are absolutely drilling up our Hawthorne trees. It seems bad (do the trees recover? Is this fine?). I sprayed the bark with vinegar but they don't seem to care. The only other thing I can find is wrapping the trunks with fabric/burlap.

It's a conundrum without any good solution, at least none I've found.

The trees do seem to recover, though they are scarred forever.

But apparently other friendly birds and insects are attracted to the free meals, so anything indiscriminately destructive is not a great choice.

Around here, I think they are technically protected. I know a few disgruntled folks who say ".22 cal" but they're so elusive you'd never draw a bead on them.

I'm curious if the hive mind has any new angles on this.