How to Keep Pest Pigeons Away from Your Solar Panels

How to Keep Pest Pigeons Away from Your Solar Panels

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Kathy Fritsch in Bird Deterrents

The feral pigeon that is often found on rooftops requires effective deterrence due to the health risks associated with diseases like bird flu. A major concern is the structural damage pigeons create, particularly when nesting under solar panels, which provide a protected habitat. Because pigeons can lay eggs up to six times per year, they are capable of multiplying quickly, making it essential to implement bird control at the time of solar panel installation.

Protecting Your Roof and Structures

Beyond solar panels, pigeons favor high, level surfaces such as gutters, air conditioning units, and external ledges for roosting and monitoring food sources. The most effective way to control them is by making these areas uncomfortable through the installation of humane bird deterrents.

Recommended Pigeon Deterrents

  • Pigeon Spikes: Available in stainless steel or plastic, these spikes offer a virtually invisible, safe, and humane way to keep pigeons off ledges, gutters, and both flat or curved surfaces. Plastic spikes come in multiple colors—including white, tan, brick red, brown, black, and gray—and range from 3” to 7” in width. They can be secured using adhesives, nails, or screws.
  • Bird Netting: An ideal solution for protecting areas under solar panels, this durable, UV-protected polypropylene netting is lightweight, virtually invisible from the ground, and can be cut to any size.
  • Copper Mesh: Another effective method for sealing off small crevices and areas beneath solar panels to prevent pigeon nesting.

The Importance of Proactive Cleanup

It is vital to install deterrents before droppings accumulate, as bird waste is highly acidic and can deteriorate paint, cement, wood, and metals. Furthermore, allowing feces to build up creates unpleasant odors and poses significant health risks, as pigeons can transmit diseases such as salmonella, cryptococcosis, and encephalitis, which are particularly dangerous to the elderly, the very young, and those with compromised immune systems.

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