Birds Killed Over Solar Panel Fields

Federal biologists say about 6 000 birds die from collisions or immolation annually while chasing flying insects around the facility s three 40 story towers which catch sunlight from five square.

Birds killed over solar panel fields.

Bird scientist shawn smallwood testified that one large solar farm alone the ivanpah solar panel project in california likely kills 28 380 birds annually. Meanwhile we ve built more wind turbines. Yes birds have died at solar photovoltaic projects some of them from crashing into panels or other infrastructure. Another problem with large solar farms is that birds sometimes mistake the glossy blue expanse of solar panels for bodies of water and try to land on them.

According to the audubon society these birds deaths are related to large solar photovoltaic installations in the desert which to waterfowl can appear to look like bodies of water due to the reflectivity of the panels. The link between solar facilities and bird deaths is still unclear. This results in birds colliding with the surface of the panels. The other solar farms analyzed by the investigators were of the newfangled trough and solar power.

One leading theory suggests birds mistake the glare from solar panels for the surface of a lake and swoop in for a landing with. Birds can be killed when they smash into the facility s solar panels the investigation concluded. Meanwhile as many as 28 000 birds are killed each year that s one every two minutes by the ivanpah solar plant in the mojave desert according to the u s. But there s hardly any science examining how many birds deaths are caused solar.

Fish and wildlife service.