Are solar power plants killing birds?

A rare and unusual type of solar power plant that concentrates sunlight in California is accidentally killing up to 6,000 birds every year, with staff reporting that the birds keep flying into its concentrated beams of sunlight, and spontaneously bursting into flames.

Do water obligate birds die at PV solar facilities?

However, the extent of mortality of water-associated and water-obligate birds is unknown; indicating evidence supporting the lake effect hypothesis is in its infancy. Given the limited peer-reviewed papers available, it is unknown if the pattern of water-obligate birds at PV solar facilities is unique to one facility or widespread among facilities.

Can birds be killed if they smash into solar panels?

Birds can be killed when they smash into the facility’s solar panels, the investigation concluded. The other solar farms analyzed by the investigators were of the newfangled trough and solar power tower varieties.

Do solar farms affect birds?

A brochure for the BTO’s farmland bird appeal highlights the need for research into strategies for minimising negative impacts and maximising positive impacts of solar farms on birds (BTO, n.d.). This document suggests that bird surveys should be undertaken (taxa non-specific) at solar farms to determine how birds might be affected.

Do solar parks sing a bird's wings?

One of the most high profile issues regarding birds and solar parks in recent years has been the effect of light reflected from mirrors at concentrated solar parks, which can singe a bird’s wings. Most of the articles available draw upon one document, by McCrary et al. (1986).

How many birds per megawatt a year are killed by photovoltaic solar?

The average annual fatality estimate we calculated for photovoltaic solar (high-end estimate of 2.49 birds per megawatt per year) is lower than that reported by another study (9.9 birds per megawatt per year) that included one photovoltaic facility.