That 6000 figure is from a solar thermal plant, not solar PV.
Yes, but PV has a highly reflective coating, which reflects sunlight almost like a mirror. It won’t burn the birds, but then we get to another part of your reply:
Solar panel reflections are nothing like lasers.
Which is correct to a certain extent… but looking at a mirror which is reflecting the sunlight doesn’t seem that nice to the eyes, especially sensitive eyes of a bird looking at it from height (where the sunlight reflection may or may not converge from multiple panels positioned together, hence my analogy to lasers) and possibly mistaking it for a lake (glass panels aren’t something naturally occurring, it’s something we hominids built, something unbeknownst to other species, so the chances are the reflective surface will seem like the surface of a water body, especially in deserts where the bird will be thirsty). This “Siren call from the light” is similar to how moths end up colliding with lamps: they don’t know the concept of “light emitter” so their instincts mistake it for the Full Moon which means mating.
Notice: birds being killed by solar panels doesn’t necessarily mean the panels are directly killing them; rather, it’s the specular reflection from their glass coating rendering the birds disoriented (because, again, the thing looks like a lake but isn’t a lake), which in turn will expose them to unnecessary risks, such as being temporarily blinded (akin to how drivers can get blinded from getting headlights unwittingly blasting at their eyes) and/or colliding mid-flight due to misguided spatial notion and unseen obstacles. Because it’s an avian death indirectly (and not directly) caused by the panels, it’s unlikely to become statistics, it’ll likely look like the bird died of “natural causes”. In fact, many human activities indirectly kill birds, especially when we talk about climate change, and I guess/hope you know how this lack of direct harm doesn’t mean climate change isn’t doing harms to wildlife.
And owls would not be affected because they fly at night…
Seems like you don’t know some of the amazing diurnal and crepuscular owls yet, so here it goes:
There are others, and as I said in another reply in this thread, there’s the possibility that a nocturnal owl will be disturbed by something (corvids harassing her, or human activity) which will force her to wake up and flee to a safer place.
@naught101@lemmy.world @Memes@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Yes, but PV has a highly reflective coating, which reflects sunlight almost like a mirror. It won’t burn the birds, but then we get to another part of your reply:
Which is correct to a certain extent… but looking at a mirror which is reflecting the sunlight doesn’t seem that nice to the eyes, especially sensitive eyes of a bird looking at it from height (where the sunlight reflection may or may not converge from multiple panels positioned together, hence my analogy to lasers) and possibly mistaking it for a lake (glass panels aren’t something naturally occurring, it’s something we hominids built, something unbeknownst to other species, so the chances are the reflective surface will seem like the surface of a water body, especially in deserts where the bird will be thirsty). This “Siren call from the light” is similar to how moths end up colliding with lamps: they don’t know the concept of “light emitter” so their instincts mistake it for the Full Moon which means mating.
Notice: birds being killed by solar panels doesn’t necessarily mean the panels are directly killing them; rather, it’s the specular reflection from their glass coating rendering the birds disoriented (because, again, the thing looks like a lake but isn’t a lake), which in turn will expose them to unnecessary risks, such as being temporarily blinded (akin to how drivers can get blinded from getting headlights unwittingly blasting at their eyes) and/or colliding mid-flight due to misguided spatial notion and unseen obstacles. Because it’s an avian death indirectly (and not directly) caused by the panels, it’s unlikely to become statistics, it’ll likely look like the bird died of “natural causes”. In fact, many human activities indirectly kill birds, especially when we talk about climate change, and I guess/hope you know how this lack of direct harm doesn’t mean climate change isn’t doing harms to wildlife.
Seems like you don’t know some of the amazing diurnal and crepuscular owls yet, so here it goes:
- Surnia ulula (Northern Hawk Owl, primarily diurnal):
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/nohowl/cur/introduction
- Asio flammeus (Short-eared Owl, active day and night):
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/sheowl/cur/introduction
- Athene cunicularia (Burrowing Owl, one of my favorites, active day and night): https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/burowl/cur/introduction
- Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl, can be active during twilight): https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grhowl/cur/behavior
There are others, and as I said in another reply in this thread, there’s the possibility that a nocturnal owl will be disturbed by something (corvids harassing her, or human activity) which will force her to wake up and flee to a safer place.