More than a dozen burrowing owl chicks successfully hatched this summer at a solar farm near Phoenix, Arizona, demonstrating an innovative way to protect a declining desert species while advancing renewable energy.
- Over a dozen owl chicks hatched at a 10,000-acre solar complex near Phoenix.
- Solar company and raptor center created artificial burrows and supported owls.
- This effort offers a replicable model to support wildlife on renewable energy sites.
What happened
This year at Longroad Energy’s Sun Streams solar complex near Phoenix, a unique conservation initiative unfolded as more than a dozen burrowing owls successfully hatched and fledged from specially installed artificial tunnels. The owls were relocated from areas threatened by housing development to the solar farm, which offered a safe and controlled environment. The solar company collaborated with Wild at Heart, a raptor rehabilitation group, to create and maintain these new nesting sites across 250 acres on the solar project.
Before construction, wildlife surveys revealed the presence of burrowing owls on the land, prompting the partnership. Workers installed forty artificial burrows and initially provided supplemental feeding and protection to help the owls settle. By August, the young owls had learned to hunt independently, marking a significant achievement for this project and suggesting that solar farms can serve as viable habitat for this vulnerable species.
Why it feels good
Burrowing owls have faced steep population declines due to shrinking habitat from urban and farmland expansion, with their traditional burrows destroyed by development. This project demonstrates a hopeful alternative to conventional relocation efforts that have become unsustainable as farmland disappears. Instead, solar farms—often seen solely as industrial sites—are being transformed into supportive environments where wildlife can thrive alongside renewable energy infrastructure.
The initiative also embodies a practical example of how different priorities, such as clean energy development and wildlife conservation, can be aligned to benefit both nature and people. By showing that a renewable energy facility can double as a safe nursery for a threatened species, the project offers positive momentum and inspiration for similar efforts across other regions.
What to enjoy or watch next
Ongoing monitoring and research will inform how this model can expand to more solar energy sites, helping to protect burrowing owls and other desert species. A recent study by Arizona State University highlights the significant overlap between solar-friendly landscapes and natural owl habitats, emphasizing the opportunity for targeted conservation through thoughtful energy planning.
Arizona is also developing guidelines for future solar projects to better incorporate wildlife needs, an effort supported by databases like those compiled by the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute. These steps mark the beginning of a promising movement toward landscape stewardship that supports both clean energy goals and biodiversity preservation.