Gordon's Bay is a harbour village tucked into the corner of False Bay, with houses stacked up the mountainside and holiday flats near the beach. Rodents in roofs, gulls on rooftops and ants in summer are what we deal with most.
Birds in Gordon's Bay: what we see
Gulls nest on flat roofs and chimneys near the harbour, and pigeons roost under eaves. Netting and spikes protect roofs and balconies.
Homes are built up the slopes of the Hottentots Holland mountains, many with sea views, split levels and retaining walls. Holiday flats and apartment blocks sit near the beach and harbour, and many homes are holiday properties. Restaurants around the harbour bring commercial work.
Worth knowing
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.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: 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.
How the treatment works
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- 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.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
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.
Bird Proofing questions from Gordon's Bay
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 gulls nesting on my Gordon's Bay roof cause problems?
Yes. They make noise and mess, block gutters and can bring bird mites. We can fit netting or spikes to stop them nesting, ideally before the breeding season starts.
Can you treat my Gordon's Bay holiday home while I'm away?
Yes, if access is arranged. We'll send you a post-treatment report with what we found and did.
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
Do you come out to Gordon's Bay for bird proofing?
Yes. Gordon's Bay is part of our regular Helderberg route, along with Strand, Somerset West, Helderberg. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
