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BIRD NESTING UNDER SOLAR PANELS
Scientists taught cameras to watch birds around solar panels; after 19,000 hours of footage, they discovered how the birds were actually using themResearchers are examining how birds interact with solar panel systems, utilizing AI-enhanced cameras to capture extensive footage of avian ...
COVID lockdowns accidentally created an experiment scientists could never have deliberately run: What happens when the roads and buildings stay, but the people disappear?The COVID-19 lockdowns accidentally created a rare real-world experiment for scientists, as human activity suddenly dropped while roads, bu...
Lambs grazing under an Oregon solar farm had 38% less grass than those in an open field, yet gained the same weight as shade made the pasture more nutritiousLambs grazing beneath solar panels at an Oregon State University research farm had access to 38% less forage than lambs in an open pasture,...
In 2020, researchers tested a self-moistening hydrogel mat under solar panels; it cooled them by at least 10°C and boosted output by up to 19%New research introduces a cooling gel for solar panels. This gel absorbs moisture at night and releases it as vapor during the day. The coo...
In 2012, Alaska counted 58 pigeon guillemots on Naked Island as mink threatened nests. 11 years later following restoration, their numbers had jumped nearly 400%, reaching 288 birds in 2023Pigeon guillemot numbers on Alaska's Naked Island Group have significantly increased. This recovery followed a multiyear effort to remove i...
In a 2022 Brazil trial, 52 lambs spent 60 days under solar-panel shade; researchers reported lower body temperatures and about 4% better feed efficiency on hotter daysA comprehensive study conducted in Brazil revealed that lambs grazing beneath solar panels experienced reduced body temperatures, which led...
Beginning in the 1900s, U.S. hunters imported Eurasian wild boar for sport; today’s feral swine threaten firefly larvae and turtle nests across the SoutheastWild pigs are destroying firefly larvae and turtle eggs in southeastern parks. These invasive animals root up the soil, disrupting delicate...
In the late 1800s, California introduced red foxes for hunting and fur farms; at Seal Beach, they drove light-footed Ridgway's rails down to just 5 pairs in 7 yearsIn the late 1800s, non-native red foxes wreaked havoc on the population of Ridgway's rails, bringing them perilously close to extinction. F...
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary emerges Black-Necked Stork's key breeding siteKhijadiya Bird Sanctuary is a key breeding site for the black-necked stork. Researchers confirmed four active nests, each producing two fle...
In a 2023 study in San Severo, six medicinal crops grew beneath tracking solar panels; deep shade cut evapotranspiration by 81.1% but reduced biomass by up to 48.8%A recent investigation conducted in Italy examined the effects of growing herbs beneath solar panels. The findings revealed a significant r...
Texas turned 68,000 acres of solar farms into sheep pastures to control weeds; the state now accounts for more than half of U.S. solar grazingTexas solar farms are turning to sheep as a surprising solution to a growing maintenance problem. Across roughly 68,000 acres, sheep now gr...
In 2024, New Jersey regulators halted a floating solar project on the 2,000-acre Wanaque Reservoir. 2 years later, a 10-MW state incentive revived plans for what could become America's largest floating solar farmWanaque Reservoir floating solar is back in development, with New Jersey supporting a new 10 MW project on a major drinking-water reservoir...
Researchers studied 20 French solar farms; beneath the panels, pollinators fell 76%, and plant-pollinator interactions plunged 86%Recent studies indicate that shading from solar panels significantly impacts pollinator numbers and interactions with plants. Notably, bee ...
In 2010, researchers tested solar panels with white lines; the modified surfaces were up to 26 times less attractive to polarotactic insectsSolar panels, with their shiny surfaces, can inadvertently attract insects seeking water. This phenomenon leads to ecological harm, disrupt...
In a 2023 Brazilian study, sheep under photovoltaic panels experienced 30% less radiant heat and up to 8°C lower wool-surface temperaturesA recent study shows sheep benefit from solar panel shade during hot weather. These animals experience significantly less radiant heat expo...
When a tropical cyclone hit Florida’s Gulf coast in July 2026, sea turtles weren’t the only victims: The world’s smallest tern was raising young on Pensacola beach when seawater inundated its nesting groundsDuring the nesting season, coastal birds like Least Terns and Black Skimmers are at high risk from tropical cyclones. These birds nest dire...
Earlier this year, Los Angeles made 8 trips to Encino Reservoir searching for one endangered bird; they found none, but 60 wildlife species emerged before a 10-acre solar project moved aheadCity biologists made eight separate field trips to Encino Reservoir searching for one endangered songbird. They found zero Least Bell’s vir...
In 1965, a mountaineer climbed 6,000 feet and found a seabird's last two colonies; he spent the next 50 years keeping it from extinctionA New Zealand salesman made a notable discovery in 1965 by locating nesting sites for the Hutton's shearwater, a unique alpine seabird. Sad...
A Florida couple bought a 45-acre swamp to save it from development; 15 years later, 275 wood storks were nesting there in a thriving wildlife havenA Florida couple purchased a cypress swamp to protect its wildlife habitat. They actively managed the land, creating a thriving sanctuary f...
In 1903, Paul Kroegel patrolled a tiny Florida island by boat to save its Pelicans; President Roosevelt turned it into America’s first wildlife refugeIn Florida's Indian River Lagoon, Paul Kroegel took a stand against market hunters targeting nesting birds. His relentless advocacy caught ...