Stop Birds Nesting Under Your Solar Panels

JG Pest Control are specialist installers of solar panel bird proofing, protecting domestic and commercial rooftop PV arrays from pigeons, gulls and other nesting birds. Our BPCA Level 2 Certified Technicians have proofed thousands of rooftop arrays, from single domestic installations to large warehouse roofs. Every system we fit uses non-penetrating, warranty-preserving hardware and carries a written guarantee.

Why Birds Nest Under Solar Panels

A solar PV installation leaves a gap of roughly 10 to 15 centimetres between the panel and the roof tile. To a feral pigeon that gap is close to a perfect cavity: sheltered from rain and wind, warmed by the panel above, hidden from predators and elevated out of reach. Once one pair raises a clutch, the rest of the local flock follows, and within a single season you can have a permanent colony living above your roof timbers.

Gulls are too large for the cavity, so they perch on top instead, foul the surface heavily and defend the airspace aggressively. This is a particular problem in coastal towns, from Brighton round to Bristol and up the south-western peninsula.

Pigeons nesting in the gap beneath solar panels

The Four Real Risks

Loss of generationAcidic droppings bond to the panel glass and can cut output by 25 percent or more.
Fire riskDry nesting material packed against live DC cabling in a cavity that runs over 60 degrees.
Voided warrantyTouching the panels, cabling or nests yourself typically breaches the manufacturer warranty.
Biohazard guanoAccumulated droppings in the loft below need specialist biohazard handling.

What We Install

  • 50mm galvanised or 316 stainless steel mesh skirt
  • Dropper-shaped stainless wire clips (nothing drilled or glued to the frame)
  • Wire posts and post-and-wire systems for ridges and flat roofs
  • Stainless gull spikes for panel tops and the surrounding ridge

Done the Right Way

  • Non-penetrating hardware that preserves the panel warranty
  • Worked to each panel and inverter manufacturer specification
  • Optional biohazard cleaning and disinfection of the cavity
  • Marine-grade hardware on coastal jobs, written guarantee on every install

Why DIY Solar Bird Proofing Voids Your Warranty

Almost every major panel manufacturer (Trina, JA Solar, LG, REC, Jinko, SunPower, Q Cells) writes their warranty around an undisturbed installation. The moment a third party, including a homeowner with a hosepipe and a broom, lifts a panel, washes the underside, touches the cabling or removes a nest, the warranty conditions are typically breached. The same applies to the inverter manufacturers (SolarEdge, Enphase, Tesla, GivEnergy, Sungrow). Our method is designed specifically to keep both warranties intact.

Related Bird Services

Bird Control → Pigeon Control → Seagull Control → Bird of Prey →