The Conflict between Birds and Solar Panels

Solar panels provide an excellent, eco-friendly alternative source of energy that has the potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, consequently curbing the climate change menace.

As more and more people across the globe swiftly embrace the use of solar panels in their daily lives, another group of people is questioning the environmental impact of this renewable source of energy, especially on birds.

Some solar panel concerns such as the ‘Lake Effect’ and birds’ incineration have come up, leading to the question of whether solar panels are a threat to birds.

This article will discuss the conflict between birds and solar panels and give reasons why the emerging new trends in solar panels development could be the answer to this disharmony.

How Solar Panels Benefit Birds

Interestingly, solar panels actually benefit birds! To better understand the discord between birds and solar panels, it is important to first talk about how these panels benefit birds.

• The panels offer a great space for nesting. Birds often prefer setting up their nests in a nice dry shelter, away from any kind of disturbance. Under the solar panels is an ideal site for nesting. However, this could potentially reduce the efficiency of the panels over time or, in worse cases, cause fire and broken cables.
• Perfect breeding area for birds. Some birds may choose to lay and store their eggs under the panels. But the amount of heat generated by the panels could easily cook the eggs in their shells or prevent them from hatching.

How Solar Panels Could Potentially Harm Birds

• The ‘Lake Effect’: Birds perceive large solar panels as water bodies. They, therefore, tend to land on them, and in the process, the intense heat burns them off. This is the sad reality of the ‘Lake Effect’ solar panels effect.
• Incineration: Outsized solar energy facilities use mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays into a central panel to produce large-scale energy. In the process, large amounts of heat may be generated. The light beams produced and the mirrors can easily attract birds that get burnt when they attempt to land on the shiny surfaces.

How to Harmonise this Conflict

There is clearly an unintended consequence of solar panel usage on birds. The big question now is how to resolve that. Here’s how.

• Pigeon Proofing your Solar Panels

Birdproofing is the use of sustainably innovative trends to keep off birds in an animal-friendly way while maximising the efficiency of your solar system. This inventive method works by using solar panel mesh to carefully seal your panels’ underside, to keep pigeons and rodents from seeking refuge down there.

The solar panel mesh is a dark, firmly woven mesh that runs along the panels’ perimeter to ensure no birds or pests gain access to the dry, warm underside of your panels.

Pigeon proofing solar panels also involve the use of bird spikes, which are an effective way to prevent birds from perching on your solar panels. Contrary to their name, they actually do not cause any harm to the birds.