Salt River is old industrial Cape Town: terraced cottages, converted factories, the rail yards and Voortrekker Road traffic. It's a working neighbourhood with lots of food businesses, and that combination means rodents and cockroaches are always on the agenda.
Birds in Salt River: what we see
Pigeons roost in old factory roofs, ledges and railway structures. Netting and spikes on warehouses stop roosting and the mess it brings.
Rows of narrow Victorian terraced houses share walls and roofs, so a rat or cockroach problem in one house quickly reaches the next. Old factories and warehouses have been turned into studios, offices and flats, and many still have old drains and gaps around pipes. Shops, bakeries and takeaways on Voortrekker and Victoria roads need ongoing commercial control.
The Black River and Liesbeek join near here and flow out through the Salt River canal into Table Bay. The canal and the rail reserve are rodent corridors right through the suburb. The ground is low and flat, so stormwater and drains back up in heavy winter rain.
Rats are the biggest pressure, followed closely by German cockroaches in kitchens and food businesses. Flies and pigeons are steady problems around commercial buildings. Bed bugs turn up in rented rooms and backpacker accommodation.
Worth knowing
When we survey a building, the first thing we look for is where the droppings land. That tells us the roost spot, which is often not where the owner thinks it is.
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.
What gives them away
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- A sour smell around a roof area where birds have been nesting for a long time.
- 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.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
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 we handle bird proofing in Salt River
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.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
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.
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 come out to Salt River for bird proofing?
Yes. Salt River is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Woodstock, Observatory, Maitland, Upper Woodstock. 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.
Can you service my Salt River restaurant without closing during trading hours?
Yes, we can come after hours or on weekends on request so trading isn't interrupted. We'll also leave a written report for your records.
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.
Do the rats in Salt River come from the canal?
Many do. The Salt River canal and the rail reserve give rats water and cover, and they move into homes and shops through drains and gaps around pipes.
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
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