Gulls and Solar Panels
Protecting commercial solar arrays from gulls and pigeons. Call 01525 863 951 to arrange a roof survey.
A solar array turns a flat roof into ideal bird habitat: warm, sheltered, undisturbed and out of sight. Gulls nest between the rows, pigeons move in underneath, and the first anyone knows about it is a drop in output or a cracked panel.
We don't install solar panels. We protect the ones you already have, on warehouses, distribution centres and commercial buildings across southern England.
What birds do to a solar array
- Dropped stones. On ballasted roofs, gulls pick up stones and drop them as part of their courtship behaviour. On one site we were called to, this had caused around £20,000 of damage to the panels below.
- Fouling. Droppings shade the cells, create hotspots and cut output. They are also acidic and attack coatings over time.
- Nesting. Gulls nest between the rows and their debris blocks gutters and outlets. Pigeons nest underneath the panels, around the wiring.
- Safety. Nesting gulls defend a roof aggressively. In season, your engineers and cleaners may not be able to work up there safely.
Why one gadget won't fix it
You can't put a black box on a roof and expect the birds to disappear. Birds quickly get used to anything that never changes. What works is an integrated approach: several humane deterrents working together, varied over time, and backed by a real predator.
How we protect an array
- Ballast netting. We net loose stone ballast so gulls can't pick it up. This is the one piece of proofing that stops stone damage outright.
- Proofing under the panels. Where pigeons are getting beneath the array, we net or mesh the gaps to keep them out.
- Hawks. Our Harris hawks make the roof feel like a predator's territory. See our specialist bird control page.
- Bird-scaring kites. Hawk-shaped kites keep that threat in the air between visits.
- Bioacoustics. Automated units broadcast genuine gull distress calls, with remote monitoring so we can see what is happening on your roof without being there.
- Decoys and lasers. Predator decoys, moved regularly, and automated lasers where they suit the site.
Every roof is different, so every programme starts with a survey. Typically the work is intensive at first and reduces as the birds move on. It is humane, because nothing we do harms the birds, and sustainable, because it uses no chemicals and keeps working year after year.
Timing matters
Gulls start choosing nest sites early in the year. Once there are eggs on your roof, the law strictly limits what anyone can do, because all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected. The time to act is winter, before they settle. Read more on our gull control for commercial roofs page.
Planning a new array?
Talk to us before the panels go on. It is far cheaper to design bird protection in than to add it after the gulls have found you.
How to keep gulls off solar panels
These are the main methods we use to protect a commercial solar array. Most roofs need several of them working together:
- Bird deterrents: Install bird deterrent devices such as spikes, netting, or wires around the solar panels to prevent seagulls from landing or nesting on them.
- Visual deterrents: Flying a hawk on a regular basis will create a hostile environment. Also, other predators and hawk kites reinforce the hawk’s territory.
- Bio-acoustic deterrents: Some sound devices emit distress sounds that are unpleasant to birds and can deter them from coming near the solar panels.
- Regular cleaning: Periodically clean the solar panels to remove any droppings and debris that may have accumulated. reduce shading & hotspots.
- If the roof area has stones or ballast, gulls will pick these up as part of their courtship and drop them on plate glass windows or solar panels below. Netting the stones will stop birds picking them up.
Every roof is different, so the right mix always starts with a survey.
Create a hostile Environment
Bioacoustic distress call systems are technological devices used to manage the issue of bird strikes at airports worldwide. These systems are particularly effective in deterring gulls and other birds, playing back their distress calls to deter them from nesting and congregating in the areas around runways and aircraft.
These systems work on the principle of fear and avoidance: when birds hear the distress calls of their species, they perceive a threat and tend to avoid the area. In an airport context, these sounds are broadcast to discourage birds from settling in the vicinity, thereby reducing the risk of bird strikes – a significant hazard for aircraft during takeoff and landing.
Using these systems on solar roof arrays is most effective before the nesting season starts. This timing is crucial because once birds establish a nesting site, they are less likely to abandon it, even in the presence of perceived threats. By initiating the system early, buildings can prevent the establishment of new nesting sites around critical areas.
Moreover, the bioacoustic distress call systems are often used in conjunction with other bird deterrent strategies for optimal results. These may include visual deterrents, such as decoy predators, laser devices, and physical barriers, as well as physical barriers, habitat management, and even trained birds of prey. Such a multi-pronged approach ensures that all potential stimuli that might attract birds are addressed, creating a comprehensive avian deterrent system.
In summary, bioacoustic distress call systems are a crucial part of bird management strategies for solar arrays. See the videos below of Bioacoustic distress calls and bird-scaring kites in use.
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Ballast Netting
Ballast netting is another strategic measure used in bird control, particularly for deterring gulls. This technique involves covering areas of loose small stones, gravel, or other similar materials with a robust, durable netting.
Gulls, particularly species like the herring gull, have a natural behaviour to pick up and drop stones, especially during the nesting season. This can pose significant problems in areas such as airport runways (FOD), solar arrays, and glass roofs where such behaviour can damage to the structures below.
Covering these areas with ballast netting serves a dual purpose
First, it physically prevents gulls from being able to pick up stones, thereby mitigating the risks associated with this behaviour. This is because the netting forms a protective layer over the stones, which the birds cannot penetrate. The netting is usually made from strong materials, such as high-density polyethene, to ensure it withstands exposure to the elements and repeated interactions with birds.
Second, over time, the presence of the netting can deter gulls from the area entirely. Once the birds realise that they cannot perform their typical stone-picking behaviour due to the netting, they may decide to relocate to another area where this activity is not hindered.
It’s important to note that, like with bioacoustic distress call systems, ballast netting is often most effective when used in conjunction with other deterrent strategies. Comprehensive bird control plans should consider the various behaviours and habits of the bird species they aim to deter to ensure the most effective combination of techniques.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Dropped ballast stones crack panels, and fouling cuts output. We have seen around £20,000 of stone damage on a single roof.
No. A net over the panels would shade them and block access for maintenance. We net the ballast, proof beneath the panels, and use scaring to keep birds off the rest.
No. Ultrasonic devices claim to drive birds away with a sound frequency that people can't hear. Birds can't hear it either, so it does nothing. Bioacoustics is different, and it works on biology rather than wavelength. The units play real alarm and distress calls from the birds' own species. To a gull, that sound means danger close by, and its instinct is to leave.
They will get used to any single device left alone. That's why we combine methods, vary them, and use hawks to keep the threat real.
Winter, before nesting begins. Once gulls have eggs, options are limited by law until the season ends.
Yes. We clear them out and proof the gaps so they can't return.
It depends on the size of the roof, whether it is ballasted, which birds are involved and how long they have been there. We survey first and then give you a clear proposal.
Do you have Seagull problems?
Contact us today for all your Seagull issues