Pigeons Under Your Solar Panels? Why Winter Is the Time to Sort It

Solar panels are a great investment, but they have one side effect many homeowners do not expect: pigeons love them. The gap between the panels and the roof is sheltered, warm and out of reach of predators, which makes it a perfect place to roost and nest – and feral pigeons will nest at almost any time of year, including through the winter.

Signs pigeons have moved in

• Cooing, scratching and flapping above you, often early in the morning
• Droppings building up on the roof, gutters, windowsills, cars and patio below
• Twigs, feathers and nesting material poking out from under the panels
• Pigeons regularly landing on the roof and disappearing under the panels

Why it is worth dealing with

• Mess: droppings are unpleasant, stain surfaces and build up quickly once a colony settles.
• Damage: nesting material and droppings can block gutters and drainage, and birds can disturb cabling under the panels.
• Efficiency: droppings on the panel surface reduce how much light reaches the cells.
• Health: pigeon droppings and nests can carry bacteria and attract mites and other insects.
• It gets worse: once one pair is nesting, others follow, and they return to the same spot year after year.

How solar panel bird proofing works

The most effective long-term fix is to stop birds getting under the panels in the first place. We fit a discreet, weather-resistant mesh around the edge of the panel array, which:

• blocks access to the gap underneath, so birds cannot roost or nest
• is fixed with clips designed for solar panels, with no drilling into your roof or panels
• is hard to see from the ground once fitted
• still lets air flow and rain drain away as normal

Where birds are already nesting, we clear out the nesting material and droppings first. Feral pigeons are covered by strict rules on how they can be managed, so we always use humane, legal methods, and proofing is usually the best answer.

Why winter is a good time to do it

Many people put it off until spring, when nesting is at its busiest and the problem is at its worst. Proofing your panels in the quieter winter months means the job is done before the main breeding season starts.

Free survey and fixed price

We fit solar panel bird proofing across Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire, from Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford to Macclesfield, Congleton and Ashbourne. Every job starts with a free survey and a fixed written price.

Find out more about our solar panel pigeon proofing service, call 07971 571 171 or freephone 0800 999 7378, or book a free survey online.