Mamre is an old Moravian mission village north of Atlantis, surrounded by open farmland and West Coast veld. Life here is quieter and more rural than the city, and the pests follow suit: field mice, crickets and grain pests more than city rats.
Birds in Mamre: what we see
Pigeons and sparrows nest in roofs and sheds, and their droppings can carry mites. Bird proofing is especially useful on thatched buildings.
At its heart are the historic mission buildings with whitewashed walls and thatched roofs, and around them are family homes, newer subsidised housing and smallholdings. Thatch and old timber need regular checks for borer and nesting rodents. Outbuildings, sheds and chicken coops on bigger plots attract mice and rats.
Mice and rats from the surrounding farmland are the main concern, especially in autumn and winter. Flies are common in summer near livestock. Ants, crickets and scorpions come in from the dry veld.
How to tell you have a problem
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- A sour smell around a roof area where birds have been nesting for a long time.
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
For landlords and body corporates, pigeon problems become a tenant complaint quickly. Proofing the common areas once beats cleaning them every week.
How we handle bird proofing in Mamre
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
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
- 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.
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.
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 Mamre
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 Mamre for bird proofing?
Yes. Mamre is part of our regular Blaauwberg & West Coast route, along with Atlantis, Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Why do we get so many mice in Mamre in autumn?
When the surrounding wheat fields are harvested and the weather cools, mice lose their cover and food and move into homes and sheds. Sealing gaps before the season starts makes a real difference.
Can you treat borer in a thatched roof?
Yes, we inspect thatch and roof timbers for beetle activity and treat it with methods suited to thatch. Older mission-era roofs especially benefit from a regular check.
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