Strandfontein sits right on the False Bay shoreline at the southern edge of the Cape Flats, with sand dunes on one side and Mitchells Plain on the other. It is a quieter, more settled suburb than many people assume, and the pest picture is shaped heavily by sand, wind and the wetlands next door.
Strandfontein: what drives birds here
Gulls and pigeons are common on shop roofs near the beach and main roads. Egyptian geese and other waterbirds stay mostly near the ponds and rarely cause trouble at homes.
Most homes are freestanding brick houses on modest plots, many extended over the years with back rooms, garages and enclosed stoeps. Those add-ons often leave small gaps where new walls meet old ones, which mice and cockroaches use. There are also shops and community facilities near the main roads and the pavilion area.
The Strandfontein wastewater works and the birding area beside it hold large open ponds, so mosquitoes and midges are part of life here, especially on still evenings. Loose Cape Flats sand blows in on the South-Easter and drifts against walls and under doors. Winter rain can leave low spots waterlogged for weeks.
Mosquitoes are the complaint we hear most in the warmer months, followed by ants that nest easily in the sandy soil. Rats and mice are common where there is open land and dumping nearby. Fleas, flies and German cockroaches round out the regular calls.
Something most people miss
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.
Bird proofing involves no poison at all, which makes it a good option for homes with children, dogs and cats.
Tell-tale signs
- 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.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
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
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
- 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.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
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
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 do ants keep coming back even after I spray in Strandfontein?
Surface spray kills the workers you can see, but the nest sits in the sand under or beside your foundations. Baiting and treating the nest area works far better than repeat spraying.
Are the mosquitoes in Strandfontein coming from the sewage works ponds?
Partly. The ponds and the wetland around them are a big breeding source, but water in gutters, pot plants and blocked drains at your own home adds to it, and that part we can help you control.
Do you come out to Strandfontein for bird proofing?
Yes. Strandfontein is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Mitchells Plain, Pelican Park, Lotus River, Grassy Park. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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.
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