Athlone is busy, built-up and full of small businesses, so a lot of our work here is about stopping pests moving between homes, shops and takeaways that share the same blocks. The Black River and the old open land around the wastewater works on the Pinelands side give rodents and mosquitoes somewhere to breed just outside the residential streets.
Birds around Athlone
Feral pigeons roost on shop fronts along the main roads and on flat roofs of the flat blocks. Egyptian geese sometimes come in from the river and sports fields but rarely cause trouble at homes.
Most homes are older semi-detached and freestanding brick houses, plus council flats in places like Kewtown and Bridgetown. Many have been extended at the back over the years, and those join-ups between old and new roofs leave gaps that rats and mice use. In the flat blocks, German cockroaches travel along shared plumbing ducts, so treating one unit on its own rarely holds for long.
The ground is flat Cape Flats sand with a fairly high water table, so winter rain sits in low spots and stormwater drains run full. The Black River runs along the north-western edge before joining the Liesbeek near the Raapenberg wetland. The South-Easter blows hard through summer and pushes flies and litter into sheltered yards.
Rats are the main complaint, especially near Klipfontein Road businesses and homes close to the river. German cockroaches are a constant in flats and food shops, and Argentine ants come inside in numbers when the first winter rains arrive. Summer brings flies and mosquitoes, with the worst mosquito pressure in houses closest to the river and vlei edges.
From the technician
Bird mites are the hidden side of nesting birds. When the chicks fledge, the mites go looking for a meal and sometimes find the people inside.
When we survey a building, the first thing we look for is where the droppings land. That tells us the roost spot, which is often not where the owner thinks it is.
Tell-tale signs
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
Pigeon droppings are acidic, mark paintwork and roofing, and become slippery underfoot on walkways. Accumulated droppings and old nests can carry fungi and bacteria, and cleaning them up dry raises dust you do not want to breathe. Nests block gutters and cause water damage when winter rains back up into the roof. When birds leave a nest, their bird mites often wander indoors looking for a new host, which leads to itchy bites.
What happens when we come out
We start by watching where the birds actually land and nest, because proofing the wrong ledge is a waste of money. Ledges and beams get bird spikes or tensioned wire systems that stop birds settling. Larger open areas such as courtyards, loading bays and light wells get bird netting fixed to a frame so birds cannot get in at all. Gaps under solar panels and roof tiles are closed with mesh or panel skirting so pigeons cannot nest underneath. Old nests and droppings are removed first, and if bird mites are present we treat the area as well.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our bird proofing service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
How much will it cost?
The cost depends on how many areas need proofing, how high they are and how much access equipment is needed. Netting a large courtyard or a warehouse roof is a bigger job than spiking a few ledges. Clean-out of heavy droppings and any mite treatment are included in the free quote once we have done the site survey.
Pigeons breed throughout the year in Cape Town, so proofing is a year-round job. We see a rush in late winter and spring when birds start nesting heavily, and again before the winter rains when people find their gutters blocked.
Frequently asked questions
Do the rats in Athlone come from the Black River?
Some do, especially in streets closest to the river and the open land around the treatment works. Most, though, are living in the sand along boundary walls and under outbuildings, so we bait and seal at the house as well as along the river side.
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Will netting be visible?
Bird netting is fine and usually black or clear, so from the ground it is hard to see once it is fitted.
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
Why do cockroaches keep coming back in my Athlone flat?
In the council flat blocks, German cockroaches move through shared plumbing ducts and walls, so neighbouring units keep re-infesting each other. Treating the whole block, or at least the units on either side, gives a far longer result.
Do you come out to Athlone for bird proofing?
Yes. Athlone is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Crawford, Rondebosch East, Lansdowne, Langa. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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