Bird Proofing Your Roof and Solar Panels in Perth

9 min read

If you’ve got solar panels on your roof in Perth, there’s a good chance you’ve also got pigeons. The gap between the panels and the roof surface creates the perfect nesting environment - shaded, warm, sheltered from wind and predators. Birds discovered this about five minutes after the first solar panels went up, and they haven’t left since.

But it’s not just solar panels. Perth’s suburbs provide plenty of other roof entry points for birds, and the damage they cause adds up faster than most homeowners realise.

Why Birds Love Solar Panels

Solar panels are typically mounted on a racking system that sits 10-15 centimetres above the roof surface. This gap creates an enclosed space that’s:

• Sheltered from weather - the panel acts as a roof over the gap
• Warm in winter - the panels absorb heat and radiate it downward
• Shaded in summer - the gap stays cooler than the exposed roof
• Protected from predators - cats, hawks, and other threats can’t easily reach birds under panels
• Elevated - birds prefer nesting sites with a height advantage

For pigeons especially, this is an ideal nesting site. Pigeons are colonial nesters - once one pair moves in, others follow. It’s not uncommon to find a dozen or more nests under a single solar panel array.

The Damage Birds Cause

Bird activity around solar panels and on roofs isn’t just a nuisance - it causes real, measurable damage.

Reduced Solar Panel Efficiency

Bird droppings on solar panels are one of the most common causes of reduced energy output. A panel covered in droppings can lose 20-30% of its efficiency. Even partial shading from droppings can significantly reduce output because of how solar cells are wired in series - a small shadow on one cell can affect the output of the entire string.

Regular cleaning helps, but if birds are nesting under the panels, new droppings appear within days of cleaning. You’re fighting a losing battle without addressing the nesting.

Blocked Gutters and Drainage

Nesting material - twigs, leaves, feathers, and droppings - washes off the roof and into gutters. This blocks gutters and downpipes, causing water to overflow and potentially back up under roof tiles or sheeting.

In Perth’s intense winter storms, blocked gutters can cause significant water damage to fascia boards, eaves, and even foundations in a single rain event.

Roof Surface Damage

Bird droppings are acidic. On concrete tiles, prolonged droppings exposure eats into the coating and accelerates deterioration. On Colorbond, it can damage the paint layer and promote corrosion. On terracotta, it stains and can etch the surface.

Large accumulations of droppings under solar panels - sometimes centimetres thick in severe cases - also trap moisture against the roof surface, promoting rust on metal roofs and moss growth on tiles.

Nesting Material Fire Risk

Dry nesting material accumulated near electrical wiring from solar panel systems represents a fire risk. While uncommon, it’s a real concern that solar panel installers and fire services take seriously.

Structural Entry Points

Birds nesting around roof edges, under broken tiles, or in gaps in the eaves often create or enlarge openings in the roof envelope. What started as a bird entry point can become a water entry point, or an access route for possums and rats.

Health Concerns

Bird droppings carry bacteria and fungi that can cause respiratory illness, including histoplasmosis and psittacosis. Large accumulations - particularly in enclosed spaces like roof cavities - should be treated as a health hazard and cleaned with appropriate protection.

Bird Proofing Solar Panels

The most effective solution for solar panel bird proofing is mesh - a physical barrier that blocks the gap between the panels and the roof surface while still allowing airflow.

How Solar Panel Bird Mesh Works

Bird proofing mesh is a galvanised or stainless steel wire mesh (or UV-stabilised plastic mesh) that clips to the edge of the solar panel frame and sits against the roof surface. It creates a continuous barrier around the entire perimeter of the panel array.

The mesh is:

• Clipped, not drilled - it attaches to the panel frame with specially designed clips, so no drilling into the panels is required (drilling would void the panel warranty)
• Shaped to the roof profile - on tile roofs, the mesh follows the contour of the tiles to eliminate gaps
• Removable for maintenance - the mesh can be unclipped if panels need servicing

The Installation Process

1. Clean under the panels - all existing nesting material, droppings, and debris must be removed before mesh goes on. This is a dirty job but essential.
2. Clean the panels - droppings on the panel surface are cleaned off while access is available.
3. Install clips - spring clips or bracket clips are attached around the perimeter of each panel frame.
4. Attach mesh - mesh is cut to size and clipped into place, following the roof profile.
5. Check all gaps - every potential entry point is checked and sealed. Birds are persistent - even a small gap will be found.

The process typically takes half a day to a full day for a standard residential solar system (6-12 panels).

Cost of Solar Panel Bird Proofing

For a typical Perth home with a standard solar panel array:

• Small system (6-10 panels): $500 - $1,000
• Medium system (10-20 panels): $800 - $1,500
• Large system (20-30+ panels): $1,200 - $2,500

These figures include the clean-up, mesh, clips, and installation. Prices vary depending on roof type (tile roofs are more complex than metal), roof height, and the extent of the existing bird mess.

Compared to the ongoing cost of reduced solar efficiency, repeated panel cleaning, gutter repairs, and potential roof damage, bird proofing mesh typically pays for itself within one to two years.

Other Bird Entry Points on Perth Roofs

Solar panels aren’t the only place birds access your roof. Common entry points across Perth homes include:

Broken or Missing Tiles

A single missing tile is an open invitation to birds. Starlings, sparrows, and pigeons will nest in the roof cavity accessed through tile gaps. This is a roofing repair issue that also solves a bird problem.

Open Eaves and Soffits

Damaged or deteriorated eave linings (soffits) create gaps where birds enter the roof cavity. Old fibro or timber soffits are particularly prone to developing gaps over time.

Ridge Cap Gaps

Where ridge capping pointing has cracked and fallen away, gaps open up that are just the right size for small birds. Sparrows especially love nesting in ridge cap gaps.

Fascia Board Gaps

Where fascia boards meet the roof edge, small gaps can develop - either from timber movement or poor initial construction. These become entry points for small birds.

Vent and Pipe Openings

Roof vents, plumbing vent pipes, and other penetrations without bird-proof covers are common entry points. A simple wire cage or purpose-built vent cover solves this.

Legal Considerations in Western Australia

Before you take any action against birds on your roof, you need to know the legal position in WA.

Protected Native Species

Under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (WA), all native birds are protected. You cannot:

• Harm or kill native birds
• Destroy active nests of native species
• Trap native birds without a licence

This includes species that commonly nest on roofs like rainbow lorikeets, magpies, and various parrot species. If native birds have established nests under your solar panels or in your roof, you need to wait until the nesting period is over before installing bird proofing.

Introduced Species

Pigeons (rock doves) and Indian mynas are introduced species and are not protected under WA law. You can install deterrents and remove their nests at any time.

However, even with unprotected species, the preferred approach is humane deterrence - blocking access - rather than harmful measures. Bird proofing mesh is considered a humane solution because it simply prevents access without harming the birds.

Practical Approach

If you’re unsure whether the birds on your roof are native or introduced:

1. Take photos and identify the species
2. If they’re native, wait until chicks have fledged before installing mesh
3. If they’re pigeons or mynas, proceed with installation at any time
4. If in doubt, contact the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for guidance

Most bird proofing installers in Perth are familiar with these requirements and will advise you accordingly.

Other Bird Deterrent Methods

Mesh is the most effective and permanent solution, but other methods are available:

Bird Spikes

Stainless steel or plastic spikes installed along ridge lines, gutters, and solar panel edges deter birds from landing. They’re effective for deterring perching but don’t prevent birds accessing enclosed spaces like the gap under solar panels.

Best used on: ridge caps, gutters, aerials, and exposed ledges.

Visual and Audio Deterrents

Reflective tape, fake owls, spinning devices, and ultrasonic repellers are widely available. Their effectiveness ranges from limited to useless for Perth’s pigeons, which quickly become accustomed to static deterrents.

Reflective devices work briefly but lose effectiveness within weeks. Fake predators need to be moved regularly to maintain any deterrent effect. Ultrasonic devices have limited evidence supporting their effectiveness.

These methods can be useful as a temporary measure but aren’t a substitute for physical barriers.

Netting

Bird netting can enclose larger areas (pergolas, carports, courtyards) but isn’t practical for most roof applications. It’s difficult to install neatly on a roof, degrades quickly in UV, and can trap birds - creating a welfare issue.

Combining Bird Proofing with Roof Restoration

If you’re planning a roof restoration and have bird problems, it makes sense to address both at the same time:

• During restoration, panels are removed anyway - this is the ideal time to clean under them and install mesh before they go back on.
• Ridge line repointing seals bird entry points - fresh pointing closes the gaps that birds use to access the roof cavity.
• Broken tiles are replaced - eliminating another common entry point.
• All flashings are resealed - closing gaps around penetrations.

By combining bird proofing with restoration, you avoid paying for a second trip to the roof and second round of safety setup. The bird mesh installation is often significantly cheaper when done as part of a larger roof project.

The Bottom Line

Birds - particularly pigeons - cause real damage to Perth roofs and solar panel systems. Droppings reduce solar efficiency, block gutters, damage roof surfaces, and create health concerns. The gap under solar panels is the single most common bird nesting site on modern Perth homes.

Bird proofing mesh is the most effective, humane, and durable solution. It’s a one-time cost that protects your solar investment and your roof for years. If you’re planning a roof restoration, it’s the perfect time to get it done.

Want to discuss bird proofing options for your roof or solar panels? Call us on 08 6388 4492 or get a free quote online.