With more and more of us having solar panels installed on our properties, birds are taking advantage of theses new nesting sites!
With more of the UK population looking to save money on their bills, the installation of solar panels is becoming increasingly popular with British households. The company GreenMatch tells us that on average there are more than 4,000 solar panels installed in the UK each month.
However, it is not just us who are benefitting from the use of solar panels. Pigeons have found out that solar panels make a great place to build nests, where they will be protected against the elements. This can lead to nest materials being washed down the roof and causing blockages in the gutter, as well as damage to the solar panel itself.
Birds can even cause damage to your property through their droppings, this is due to it containing uric acid. This means it can cause substantial damage to many building materials, including stone, metal, and brickwork.
According to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) pigeons allegedly carries over 110 pathogens! Other research shows that wild birds can pass on diseases to humans.
Most common diseases and pathogens include:
​Air-borne Diseases | Food-borne Diseases |
Chlamydia psittaci (Ornithosis)  | Salmonella spp |
Cryptococcus neoformans | Escherichia coli |
Histoplasma capsulatum  | Campylobacter jejuni |
Allergenic particles (bird fancier’s lung) | ​Listeria monocytogenes |
​ | Vibrio cholerae |
Diseases can even be transmitted from pigeon droppings. Once the droppings dry, it can create small air-borne particles that could to respiratory issues. Due to this reason wearing the right PPE is vital when cleaning bird droppings. In 2019, two patients from Glasgow had passed away after contracting a cryptococcal fungal infection. Their deaths were later linked to pigeon droppings.
It is essential to keep birds away from food manufacturers & distributors, as many wild birds have the potential to carry food-borne diseases. Poor food hygiene standards can lead to these diseases being passed onto humans.
Birds can also carry insects (Bird mites, ticks, fleas, and beetles) and if they decide on making their nest on your property, this can lead to a secondary infestation. These small creatures can multiply into thousands, the last thing you want for you and your pets is to deal with all the biting, itching and the crawling sensation from these insects.
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