The Atlantic Seaboard runs from Mouille Point and Green Point down past Sea Point, Bantry Bay and Clifton to Camps Bay, squeezed between the mountain and the cold ocean. Pest work here is mostly in apartment blocks, restaurants and holiday rentals, where one problem flat can spread to the whole building.
Bird Proofing by suburb
We cover all 26 suburbs on our City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
- Bantry BayBird Proofing
- Bo-KaapBird Proofing
- Camps BayBird Proofing
- CliftonBird Proofing
- De WaterkantBird Proofing
- ForeshoreBird Proofing
- FresnayeBird Proofing
- GardensBird Proofing
- Green PointBird Proofing
- HiggovaleBird Proofing
- Hout BayBird Proofing
- Imizamo YethuBird Proofing
- LlandudnoBird Proofing
- Malay QuarterBird Proofing
- Mouille PointBird Proofing
- OranjezichtBird Proofing
- Schotsche KloofBird Proofing
- Sea PointBird Proofing
- TamboerskloofBird Proofing
- Three Anchor BayBird Proofing
- University EstateBird Proofing
- Upper WoodstockBird Proofing
- VredehoekBird Proofing
- Walmer EstateBird Proofing
- WoodstockBird Proofing
- ZonnebloemBird Proofing
The local picture in Atlantic Seaboard
Feral pigeons are the main nuisance on balconies and air-conditioning units, and Hartlaub's and kelp gulls work the rooftops near the sea. Netting, spikes and wire systems on ledges usually solve it without harming the birds.
Much of the coast is high-rise and mid-rise flats along Beach Road and Victoria Road, mixed with older semi-detached houses inland and big modern homes cut into the slopes higher up. Apartment blocks share refuse rooms, service ducts and basements, which is where rats and cockroaches settle. Holiday lets change guests every few days, and that turnover brings bed bugs in with the luggage.
What gives them away
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Cooing, scratching or flapping in the roof space or behind the gutters early in the morning.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
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.
From the technician
Fake owls and shiny CDs work for about a week. Pigeons are not stupid, and once they realise the owl never moves they sit right next to it.
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.
Our process, step by step
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.
- Site survey
We look at where the birds roost, nest and enter, and which surfaces need protecting.
- Proposal
We recommend the right mix of netting, spikes, wire or mesh for each spot and explain why.
- Clean-out
Nests, droppings and debris are removed safely before anything is fitted.
- Install proofing
Netting, spikes, wire or mesh is fixed so it is neat and secure against the south-easter.
- Mite treatment and report
If bird mites are present we treat the area, and you get a written report.
Prevention that actually works
- 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.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
Pricing, honestly
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.
A few spikes on a low windowsill is a fine DIY job. Netting and solar panel proofing at height is not, both for safety and because poorly tensioned netting sags, traps birds and ends up looking messy. I would rather do it once and do it properly.
Bird Proofing questions from Atlantic Seaboard
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
Do Atlantic Seaboard holiday rentals really get bed bugs?
Yes, because guests change often and bed bugs hitch a ride in luggage. A quick inspection between bookings, plus treating at the first sign, stops a small problem turning into cancelled stays.
Why does my Sea Point or Green Point flat get rats when I keep it clean?
Rats in apartment blocks usually live in the refuse room, basement or service ducts and move up through the building. We work with the building as a whole, baiting the common areas and sealing the routes into individual flats.
Why am I getting bites after the pigeons left?
That is often bird mites leaving an abandoned nest. They do not live on people, but they bite, and we treat the nest area to stop them.
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 you come out to Atlantic Seaboard for bird proofing?
Yes. Atlantic Seaboard is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Sea Point, Green Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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