Research from the University of Málaga (UMA) has documented six species of birds of prey regularly using a solar PV plant in southern Spain over a two-and-a-half-year period.
The study, “Raptors Using a Solar Photovoltaic Facility in Southern Spain,” published in the Journal of Raptor Research, provides field-based evidence of how birds of prey use PV infrastructure in open agricultural landscapes.
The researchers conducted the study at a 150 MW, 299-hectare PV plant in the Spanish province of Seville. The facility features fixed-tilt modules with uniform spacing between rows. It is located in a flat to gently rolling landscape dominated by cereal crops, with scattered olive groves and areas of natural vegetation, including stone pine.
The researchers recorded six raptor species at the site. The black kite was the most abundant, followed by the common buzzard and common kestrel.
Perching on modules, posts and fences was the most frequently recorded behavior, with 121 observations, followed by flight, with 120. The researchers also recorded 47 hunting events, 29 instances of soaring and one observation of territorial behavior.
The researchers said the plant’s location in a cereal-growing area with few natural perches could explain why the birds use PV structures as vantage points and resting places. They added that restrictions on hunting within the site favor prey species such as rabbits, hares, partridges and small mammals, increasing food availability for birds of prey. The researchers recorded several hunting events between the module rows.
Some soaring species also used rising air currents generated by warm air above the PV modules to gain altitude, according to the study. The researchers repeatedly observed this behavior during the monitoring period.
They recorded no collisions or mortality associated with the modules, mounting structures or fencing during the study period.
The researchers cautioned that their findings cannot be extrapolated to all solar plants. They said there are no data on the raptor community at the site before the PV plant was built. It also remains unclear how the birds would respond to a greater concentration of similar infrastructure or what the medium- and long-term effects could be.
The researchers recommended conducting similar studies in areas where new PV plants are planned and implementing long-term monitoring programs to build a body of knowledge comparable to that available for wind farms.
Following the local study, the researchers plan to expand their work across the Spanish region of Andalusia to assess how the expansion of solar PV affects steppe birds, particularly species associated with open agricultural landscapes.
The research is part of Spain’s Complementary R&D&I Plan on Biodiversity. It is funded by the Regional Ministry of University, Industry, Energy and Innovation, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the European Union’s NextGenerationEU program.
The research team comprised scientists from UMA, BioGea Consultores, the University of Extremadura and Ofitecma Marbella.
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