Bird & Critter Guards in Mesa, AZ

Bird & Critter Guards are the fix for a common solar complaint in Mesa: pigeons nesting under the panels. The space between the array and the roof is shaded, sheltered from wind and hard for hawks to reach. To a pigeon, it looks a lot like the rock ledges its wild ancestors nested on. Once a pair moves in, others follow, and the cooing, scratching and droppings start.

Why it matters beyond the noise

Rock pigeons can breed any time of year and lay up to six times a year, usually two eggs at a time. One nesting pair can draw others to the same shaded gap. Their nests are loose platforms of twigs and straw, and the debris piles up against roof drains and tile edges, where it can hold water during monsoon storms. Droppings stain the roof and panels, and birds and rodents in the gap can damage wiring. Loose or chewed wiring repairs run about $100 to $400 in national cost guides, and the damage is usually found only after production drops.

Why mesh, not spikes

Spikes and decoys do not do much for this problem, because the birds are under the array, not on top of it. The reliable fix is a barrier: galvanized or coated wire mesh fastened around the perimeter of the array with clips that attach to the panel frames. Nothing is drilled into the panels or the roof, which avoids new roof penetrations, and the mesh can be unclipped later for service.

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Cleanout comes first

There is no point closing off the gap with birds, eggs or nests still inside. We clear out the nesting material and droppings, check the wiring and connectors under the array for damage, and only then install the mesh. If eggs or chicks are present, we will talk with you about timing, since federal rules protect many native birds. Rock pigeons are an introduced species and are generally not covered by those protections, but doves and other native birds can nest in the same spots.

Tile roofs and odd shapes

On tile roofs, the mesh follows the gap between panel and tile profile, which is uneven on S-tile. We cut and shape it to close the gaps without leaving openings where the tile dips. Arrays that wrap around vents or step across roof planes take more custom fitting.