Pigeons under solar panels: signs, problems and proofing

Pigeons under solar panels are the bird problem we are called to most. The gap between a roof-mounted array and the tiles is warm, dry, sheltered from the weather and out of reach of predators, and it is open at the edges. For a feral pigeon it is close to an ideal nest site, and once one pair has moved in, others usually follow.

01Signs that birds are nesting under your panels

• Pigeons on the roof every day, landing on the panels and disappearing underneath.
• Cooing, scratching and flapping from the roof, often early in the morning.
• Droppings on the panels, the roof below the array, the patio, windowsills or the car.
• Twigs, feathers and nesting material sticking out from under the panels or collecting in the gutters.
• Overflowing gutters below the array after rain.

02Why it is a problem

• Blocked gutters and drainage. Nesting material, droppings and feathers build up under the panels and wash into the gutters. Water that cannot drain away can find its way into the roof and walls.
• Fouled panels. Droppings on the glass block light and need cleaning off, and a build-up under the array is unpleasant to clear.
• Damage to cabling. Nesting birds can disturb the cables running under an array, and nests attract other animals. Grey squirrels, which also use the space when it is open, can chew cables, which is a fire and safety risk.
• Noise. Birds nesting a few feet above a bedroom ceiling are hard to ignore.
• Mites and insects. Nests hold bird mites and other insects that can move into the house. Our guide to bird mites explains what to look for.
• Health. Bird droppings can carry bacteria and fungi. A build-up should be cleared with care and the right protective equipment.

Because feral pigeons can breed in any month, the problem does not go away on its own over the winter. It usually grows.

03Why DIY rarely solves it

Spikes on the panels, plastic owls and reflective strips do not stop a bird that wants to get underneath, and pigeons quickly learn to ignore them. Anything that is fixed by drilling into the panels or their frames can damage them and may affect their warranty. Clearing the nests yourself means working on a roof, around electrical equipment, in heavily fouled conditions. It is not a job for a ladder.

04How solar panel proofing works

The lasting fix is to close the gap around the edge of the array, so birds and squirrels cannot get underneath. A typical job runs like this:

• Survey. We check the array, the roof and the gutters, and look for active nests.
• Clearance. Nesting material, droppings and debris are removed from under the panels and from the gutters, bagged and taken away, and the area is disinfected.
• Proofing. A durable mesh is fitted around the whole perimeter of the array. It is fixed without drilling into the panels or their rails, and it leaves air moving under the panels.

If there is an active nest with eggs or chicks, the law protects it. Wild birds, their active nests and their eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so the timing of the work is planned around any nest that is in use.