Pinelands was laid out as South Africa's first garden city, and its tall trees, wide verges and old thatched cottages still define it. Those same trees and roofs bring squirrels, rats and thatch beetles to our list here.
Pinelands: what drives birds here
Egyptian geese use the parks and green belts, and pigeons nest in roofs. Bird proofing roofs and thatch edges reduces nesting.
Many homes are original cottages from the 1920s and 1930s, some still with thatched roofs, along with later brick houses and townhouse complexes. Big gardens and overhanging trees give rodents and squirrels easy access to roofs. Older timber floors and roof structures are prone to borer. Outbuildings, garages and garden sheds are common hiding places.
Squirrels and rats in roofs are the most common calls, along with thatch and wood borer problems. Mosquitoes near the river and Egyptian geese in parks are regular issues. Fishmoths and ants appear in older homes.
Something most people miss
For landlords and body corporates, pigeon problems become a tenant complaint quickly. Proofing the common areas once beats cleaning them every week.
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.
Signs to look for
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Cooing, scratching or flapping in the roof space or behind the gutters early in the morning.
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- 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.
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
What affects the price
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Can you stop pigeons nesting under my solar panels?
Yes. We clean out the nests and fit mesh skirting around the panel edges so birds cannot get underneath.
Why are there squirrels in my Pinelands roof?
The tall trees give them easy access to roofs, and they nest in warm, dry spaces. We remove them and seal entry points.
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 Pinelands thatched cottages get borer?
Yes, older thatch and timber often show borer activity. We inspect the thatch and roof timbers and advise on treatment.
Do you come out to Pinelands for bird proofing?
Yes. Pinelands is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Thornton, Ndabeni, Langa, Mowbray. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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