Birds Killed Over Solar Panel Fields

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 killed over solar panel fields.

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. Birds can be killed when they smash into the facility s solar panels the investigation concluded. Fish and wildlife service.

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. Heat emanating from the ivanpah solar electric generating system the world s largest solar farm of its kind has allegedly killed and injured dozens of birds and other wildlife. This is called a lake effect birds have been found dead wounded or stranded at several solar projects in the desert. The link between solar facilities and bird deaths is still unclear.

Meanwhile we ve built more wind turbines. But there s hardly any science examining how many birds deaths are caused solar. 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. 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.

Bird scientist shawn smallwood testified that one large solar farm alone the ivanpah solar panel project in california likely kills 28 380 birds annually.