See Solar in Action as it Powers Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Caring for our planet has always been one of the driving missions of FPL SolarNow. That’s why we’re proud to help foster and preserve the majestic creatures that call Florida home.

The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society leads the charge. As one of the first partner locations to welcome an FPL SolarNow installation, the zoo is also on the forefront of substantial conservation efforts to protect wildlife in Palm Beach County, including Swallow-tailed Kites that are seasonal visitors to South Florida.

Read on to learn more about why these birds are important, how we’re aiding in this conservation effort using solar energy and how FPL solar energy centers have had unique bird sightings as well.

Tracking Swallow-Tailed Kites Using Solar Energy

The Swallow-tailed Kite is a bird in the same family as North American Hawks and Eagles. These birds nest and raise their young in very tall trees and humid forests, making Palm Beach County the perfect spot for their summer home until they must make their 5,000-mile journey to South America where they will stay for the winter. While the Swallow-tailed Kite population is crucial to the eco-system, it is also shrinking.

Efforts to conserve this important animal are underway thanks to organizations like the Palm Beach Zoo, the Avian Research and Conservation Institute and the Department of Environmental Resource Management, which helps count, track and study these birds to understand how their populations are faring.

This involves telemetry tracking, which means placing tiny “backpacks” on the birds to track their movement to and from South America each year. This delicate process is handled expertly by the zoo to ensure the safety of the Swallow-tailed Kites.

Using solar energy, these trackers are integral in obtaining the necessary research to help conserve these unique and amazing birds. This is a great example of how clean energy can help support conservation.

Local Sightings at Solar Energy Centers

Did you know that FPL has 78 solar energy centers across Florida? These solar installations act as “farms” that help generate reliable energy and keep bills as low as possible for customers in the Sunshine State.

These solar centers are often in rural areas, where they sometimes see local wildlife visit on their webcams. See below for recent sightings at FPL’s solar energy centers, including a Sandhill Crane, a Great Egret, a Great Blue Heron and a Red-Shoulder Hawk.

Conserve for a Better Future

At FPL, we understand that the actions we take today can have a positive impact on our future. Visit the Palm Beach Zoo, which houses more than 550 animals across 23 acres, to learn more about the amazing wildlife in our planet and to see how you can support the zoo in its conservation efforts. And don’t forget to sign up for our Solar Insider program to learn more ways you can be a part of the efforts t