Solar Panel Bird Prevention
Installation of solar panels to roofs have enabled an ideal safe roosting and nesting sites for birds to hide away from predators, British weather and other factors that most birds experience when nesting.
To prevent birds from accessing the installers must understand the species involved and any regulations in removing birds from a nesting site. All birds are protected within the UK, including pigeons, so its important that installation works are undertaken when the birds are not present, certainly outside of the breeding season or when possible encouraged before the problem occurs.
We now have several options available for preventing birds from gaining access to the underside of solar panels, including the use of spikes and mesh. Both have their pros and cons; solar spikes are extremely easy to install but are generally only specific for pigeons, whilst solar mesh can stop a larger array of pest birds but is more complicated to install.
Solar spikes are generally the most common and widely used prevention device as installers can quickly install a system in place using adhesive or preferred screws. This may conflict with any manufacturers’ warranty. Preparation is an important aspect of spikes installations, and installers should only use polymer flexible adhesives that allow for fluctuations in temperatures. Surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned, and all oils are removed, whilst not as important as we recommend using a surface primer for plastic and aluminium.
Our new plastic spikes are now 100% UV-resistant plastic, available in 2 different colours and manufactured exclusively within the UK and an excellent choice for prevention against pigeons.
Weldmesh is an extremely robust device that can be complicated to install but will act as a permanent system with a very low failure rate. Due to the mesh hole size, our mesh will proof against starlings and sparrows; a common pest also encountered with solar panels. We recommend using solar panel clips or installers on a budget panel pins and clips to prevent drilling into surfaces.
Regardless of the system installed, we recommend all nesting and guano from the panels’ underside be removed from undertaking the proofing works. This allows for returning birds to abandon the site and look for alternative options quickly.