# Pigeons are nesting under my solar panels. What can I do? > Pigeons nesting under solar panels: what the law says about active nests, when mesh can be fitted, the damage birds can cause, and why spikes rarely work. URL: https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/pigeons-under-solar-panels/ 1. [Home](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) 2. [Solar Panel Bird Proofing](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/) 3. Pigeons are nesting under my solar panels. What can I do? Learn # Pigeons are nesting under my solar panels. What can I do? [Eco Solar Panels UK](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) bird proofs solar panels across Derby. If pigeons have moved in under yours, this guide explains what you can and can't do, and when. Published 30 September 2026 · Updated 30 September 2026 · By Eco Solar Panels UK **Short answer:** If a nest under your panels has eggs or chicks, leave it. It is an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it is in use or being built. Once it is empty, the nest material can be cleared, the cables checked and mesh fitted around the array to keep pigeons out. ## What the law says All wild birds, their eggs and their nests are protected in England. Government guidance says you must not intentionally take, damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest while it is being used or built, or disturb certain birds while nesting ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wild-birds-protection-surveys-and-licences)). Feral pigeons count. In practice, that means if a nest under your panels has eggs or chicks, it has to be left until it is empty. Blocking the birds in or out while a nest is active is not allowed. There are licences for some bird control, but for a domestic solar array the straightforward route is to wait. ## Timing Feral pigeons can nest at most times of year, so there isn’t a guaranteed safe season. The only reliable approach is to check whether a nest is in use before starting work. If it is, the job waits and we come back once it is empty. If the nests are old and abandoned, the work can go ahead straight away. Pigeons under your panels? We check for active nests first and fit mesh once it is clear. Call for a free quote. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) ## Why pigeons choose solar panels The space under an array is sheltered, warm in the sun and hard for predators to reach. Once one pair nests there, others often follow. The result is noise, droppings on paths and windows, blocked gutters and downpipes, and a build-up of nest material under the panels. ## Damage to the system Birds nesting under an array can damage the cables and connectors running behind the panels. Droppings on the glass shade individual cells and cut output. If your system has started producing less, or the inverter is showing an isolation or earth fault, bird damage is one of the things to check. [My solar inverter has stopped working](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-inverter-not-working/) covers the safe checks. ## The fix Once the space is clear, the old nest material and droppings are removed from under the panels and the wiring is checked. Then mesh is fitted around the edges of the array, held with clips that attach to the panel frames, so nothing is drilled into the roof. Spikes alone rarely work, because pigeons get in from the sides and corners. [Solar panel bird proofing](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/) explains how the mesh is fitted, and [solar panel cleaning](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-cleaning/) can be done in the same visit. ## Bottom line If a nest under your panels is in use, the law says it must be left alone until it's empty. After that, clear the nest material, check the cables and fit mesh around the array so the birds can't get back in. Call 01332 919162 (+441332919162), 9am to 7pm, 7 days. ## Questions people also ask ### How do I know if a nest is active? Signs include birds going in and out repeatedly, chirping from under the panels, and fresh nesting material. The gap under an array is often too small to see into, so a check from the roof edge with the right equipment is the reliable way. ### Do bird spikes work on solar panels? Rarely on their own. Pigeons get under the panels from the sides and corners, which spikes don't block. Mesh fitted around the whole edge of the array is the usual fix. ### Can pigeons damage my solar panels? They can damage cables and connectors under the array, and droppings and nest material can block gutters and downpipes. Droppings on the panel surface can shade cells and reduce output. Related service [Solar Panel Bird Proofing](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/) Mesh clipped around the edge of the array so pigeons can't get under it, fitted outside the nesting season or once a nest is empty, with no drilling into tiles. [View service](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/) Talk it through Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) ## More guides - [Learn My solar inverter has stopped working. What now?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-inverter-not-working/) - [Decision Guide Removing solar panels for a new roof: what does it cost?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-panels-roof-replacement/) - [Learn Buying a house with solar panels: what should I check?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/buying-a-house-with-solar-panels/) - [Decision Guide Is this a good solar quote?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/check-a-solar-quote/)