Maitland is where Voortrekker Road begins its long run north, a working suburb of old cottages, flats, warehouses and the big Maitland cemetery. Railway lines and industrial yards wrap around it, and those are the corridors that rats use to move about.
Birds around Maitland
Pigeons roost on warehouses, the station and older buildings along the main road. Netting and spikes are the usual fix on commercial properties.
You'll see rows of Victorian and Edwardian cottages, semi-detached houses and older blocks of flats, many with suspended wooden floors and shared walls. Shops along Voortrekker Road often have living space upstairs. Warehouses and workshops towards Ndabeni and Paarden Eiland store goods that attract rodents and stored product pests.
The Black River runs along the eastern side, and the railway reserves and marshalling yards create long strips of overgrown ground. Winter rain collects in old drains, while the South-Easter blows litter into corners along fences and walls. It's flat, built-up and warm in summer.
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.
What gives them away
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- A sour smell around a roof area where birds have been nesting for a long time.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
- Cooing, scratching or flapping in the roof space or behind the gutters early in the morning.
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
- 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.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
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 Maitland
Can you do commercial buildings?
Yes, a lot of our bird proofing is shops, warehouses and blocks of flats where droppings affect staff and customers.
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 the rats in Maitland come from the railway lines?
A lot of them do. The railway reserves, marshalling yards and stormwater drains are long, quiet corridors with cover and food, and rats move from there into homes and warehouses.
My Maitland cottage has wooden floors. Should I worry about wood borer?
It's worth checking. Older pine floors and roof timbers are often affected, so look for small round exit holes and fine dust, and we can inspect and treat if needed.
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Do you come out to Maitland for bird proofing?
Yes. Maitland is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Kensington, Salt River, Ndabeni, Pinelands. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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