Woodstock runs from the railway line and the old industrial blocks along Albert Road up to the cottages above Victoria Road.
The local picture in Woodstock
Pigeons nest in warehouse roofs, signage and ledges. Bird netting and spikes protect stock, signs and entrances.
Converted warehouses, studios, cafés and showrooms sit next to Victorian terraced houses and newer apartment developments. Restaurants and food production spaces add constant attraction for pests.
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.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: 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.
- Site survey
We look at where the birds roost, nest and enter, and which surfaces need protecting.
- Proposal
We recommend the right mix of netting, spikes, wire or mesh for each spot and explain why.
- Clean-out
Nests, droppings and debris are removed safely before anything is fitted.
- Install proofing
Netting, spikes, wire or mesh is fixed so it is neat and secure against the south-easter.
- Mite treatment and report
If bird mites are present we treat the area, and you get a written report.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
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.
Questions we get asked in Woodstock
Do you come out to Woodstock for bird proofing?
Yes. Woodstock is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Upper Woodstock, Salt River, Observatory, Zonnebloem. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can you service a Woodstock restaurant after hours?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits are available on request, so treatments do not disrupt service. You also get a post-treatment report for your records.
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.
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.
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.
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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