The municipality has urged the public to inform them promptly quickly if they see birds nesting in residential areas.
The municipality has urged the public to inform them promptly quickly if they see birds nesting in residential areas.
This follows drama in Bathurst Street last week, when the SPCA intervened to secure an 11th-hour stay for a colony of cattle egrets and their chicks.
There were contrasting reactions from residents and businesses when Makana Municipality's Department of Parks and Recreation started trimming trees that are home to a large colony of cattle egrets.
Nombulelo Mgxotheni from Vukuzenzele herbal shop, said her 10-year-old daughter had started crying when she saw the municipality destroying the nests. It is mid-breeding season for these birds.
SPCA supervisor Yolandi Gardner said they had received complaints from the public.
"This is animal cruelty. We were there this morning and we saw dead babies and smashed eggs all over the pavement," Gardner said. "One of our friends took four of the babies for safekeeping."
Grocott's Mail also received several calls from members of the public, complaining about the destruction of the nests.
However, many residents and businesses in the section of Bathurst street where the birds are based, approved. Vehicle workshop owner Alistor Cummings said, "The municipality is doing a great job here. I don't condone animal cruelty but those birds are a terrible nuisance and a health hazard."
Cummings said on a hot day they struggle to breathe because of the birds' stench. He said they could not park their cars under the trees, because the bird droppings left permanent stains.
"Those birds are filthy, man! These are not endangered species. I would've understood the [complaining]better if the animals were endangered."
Mgxotheni said, "I complained in May long before the animals laid eggs and hatched, but the municipality is only acting now. "
Resident, Thando Faji, was celebrating.
"These birds must just go. We are tired of breathingthis stench. We are prone to illnesses and I'm sure it is caused by the birds," Faji said.
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreations, Kevin Bates, on whose instruction the trees were being trimmed, said at the time, "It is with sadness and regret that we have to destroy the bird's nests with eggs and chicks."
He said he was forced to act after numerous complaints from the Bathurst Street residents about how the birds disturb their peace and pose a health hazard.
He said the birds infested residents with lice and dirtied the pavement with their droppings.
"We have to work hard removing their poo from the pavements with pressure hoses," he said.
But the chopping came to a halt on Friday after the SPCA intervened. In a joint statement to Grocott's Mail last Friday, Gardner and vice-chairperson of the SPCA committee Lois Marechal said, "They can't kill animals to please humans."
Gardner said the municipality had agreed to postpone the process until after the breeding season.
"They should have contacted us first before starting with this. We would have advised them not to start the process until the breeding season is over," Marechal said.
Bates urged the public to react quickly when they see these birds grouping and starting to build nests in residential areas.
