The gap underneath your panels
Pigeons find the shade under rooftop arrays; we find the nests.
Why do pigeons nest under solar panels?
The gap between panels and roof is warm, dry and sheltered from wind and hawks. Skedaddle Wildlife Control says pigeons are by far the most frequent solar panel wildlife issue in the Denver area.
When does it land?
Spring and summer
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
How do I know they’re nesting?
Birds ducking under
Pigeons slipping under the lower panel edge and out again, morning after morning.
Cooing overhead
Steady cooing from the roof, loudest early in the day, often heard from inside.
Twigs at the edge
Sticks, feathers or dry grass poking out from under the bottom row.
Droppings below
Streaks on the roof, in the gutter and on the patio under the array.
What does a nest cost you?
Pigeons rarely hurt output from underneath, but they roost on top too, and droppings land on the glass. Spots shade cells, and shading one cell on a string can drag down more than its share. Nests also hold debris, droppings and moisture against the roof and the wiring, which is why your installer should see them.
What can I do myself?
Do
- Watch the roof edge from the street for a few mornings and note where birds go in.
- Photograph droppings, twigs and entry points from the ground, with the date.
- Call your installer or a wildlife specialist about guards around the array.
- Book a wash once the guards are in, not before.
Don’t
- Don’t climb up and reach under the panels by hand.
- Don’t spray a hose under the array to flush a nest; the wiring runs there.
- Don’t fix mesh to the panel frames yourself.
- Don’t pay for a wash before the gap is closed; the droppings come back.
What does our crew do?
Nests documented
We photograph every nest and gap we can see, row by row, for the specialist.
Droppings removed
Spots on the glass soaked and lifted, and loose debris cleared from the edge.
No guards fitted
We do not install critter guards; your installer or a wildlife specialist does.
Wash after guards
Once the gap is closed, a pure-water wash so the array starts clean.
What do owners ask about pigeons nesting?
How do I get pigeons out from under my solar panels?
Call a wildlife specialist or your installer. They clear the nest and fit guards, often a mesh skirt around the array, so birds cannot get back in. Do not climb up yourself. We can photograph the nests before they arrive and wash the glass once the gap is closed.
Do you install pigeon guards?
No. We do not install critter guards, because fixing anything to the array belongs to your installer or a wildlife specialist. We photograph nests and gaps, remove droppings and loose debris we can reach from the edge, and send you notes and photos to hand on.
Do pigeons damage solar panels?
They cause trouble around them. Droppings shade cells on the glass, and nests hold debris and moisture against the roof and the wiring under the array. We look from the edge and photograph what we see; whether wiring needs attention is a question for your installer or a licensed electrician.
Why are pigeons such a problem in Denver?
Skedaddle Wildlife Control says pigeons are by far the most frequent solar panel wildlife issue in the Denver area. A rooftop array gives them a shaded, sheltered gap close to food and water, and once one pair settles in, others tend to follow.
Should I clean panels before or after guards go in?
After. Washing first means paying twice, because droppings keep landing until the gap is closed. Once the guards are fitted, a single wash, from $149 for up to 20 panels, clears the glass, and the glass-level check confirms the edges we can see are clear.
Seeing this on your glass?
Send a photo from the ground or a screenshot of your app, and we will say whether it needs us.