This is Bird Note.

Solar panels are a popular source of renewable energy.

But large groupings of them, called arrays, can take up a lot of space, says

ecologist Chelsea Prather.

People are interested in making that area underneath solar arrays into usable habitats,

so it's really important to know who is using it and how they're using it.

At two solar arrays in Ohio, Chelsea and her students found American Robbins, or rather their cup-shaped nests.

The first site was a fixed array with panels that are locked in place.

The second was a tracking array, where panels tilt to follow the sun.

Chelsea noticed that robin nests on the tracking array looked weird.

Measurements confirmed that these nests were unusually tall and mounted to the

support beams at odd angles. And we think that was just because the nest was moving throughout

the day when they were trying to make the nest. And the taller walls may have stopped the

eggs from falling out too. It's a new example of how birds are adapting to a changing world.

Nature finds a way.

These birds are making their nests that contain their precious eggs

on a structure that is moving all the time,

and they have found a way to do it, which I think is just remarkable.

For Bird Note, I'm Ariana Rimmel.