Solar powered plants in the Mojave desert are killing birds flying above it and wildlife investigators expressed growing concerns over the matter.

Federal wildlife investigators who visited BrightSource Energy plant last year reported an alarming rate of streamers -- birds that get scorched because of the solar powered plants -- that ignite in midair every two minutes. A plume of smoke becomes very visible indicating that birds get fried while in flight.

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Investigators are urging officials to halt the operation of a bigger plant that is soon to be made.They want to halt the construction of the plant until they understand the extent of bird deaths.

BrightSource experts dismiss the concern and said that the deaths were as low as a thousand, specialists from the Center of Biological Diversity things otherwise. The specialists reported as many as 28,000 birds that were scorched to death.

Operators of the US$2.2 billion plant say that it is the world's biggest plant to employ the so-called plant power towers.

The power towers are made up of 300,000 mirrors that reflect solar rays into three boiler towers with each stretching up to 40 stories high.

The water inside is then heated up to produce steam that turns turbines. The rotations in turn generate enough electricity to power 14,000 homes.

However, the rays the plants produce are so bright they could dazzle and confuse pilots flying overhead. As a result, the rays present not only clean energy, but also life hazards.

Senior Vice President of BrightSource Energy, Joseph Desmond, has divulged that they are currently looking into ways that will curb the number of bird deaths. These include studying whether lights, sounds, or other technologies could help scare the birds away.

Garry George, renewable energy director of Audubon Society, California chapter, admits that the deaths are alarming. However, he said that it remains unclear whether the deaths were technologically-related or location-caused.

The bird deaths bring to light the possible environmental dangers associated with harnessing clean energy. Reports show that solar farms tend to harm tortoises, while wind farms pose threats to birds.

The solar plants are also considered "mega-traps" for wildlife. Insects are attracted to its glares, while the insects attract birds eventually get scorched by the intense heat of the solar panel rays.

TagsBrightSource Energy