Conservation groups and local authorities in Spain found that simple netting can sharply reduce bird collisions with glass padel courts near sensitive habitats.
Spain’s fast-growing love of padel created an unexpected problem for birds. The sport uses glass-walled courts, and near wetlands or migration routes those transparent walls can become almost invisible obstacles for flying birds.
Conservation groups raised concern after collisions were recorded around courts close to sensitive habitats. The issue was not that padel itself was the enemy; it was that a design made for sport had created a hazard in places where birds move constantly between feeding, nesting and resting areas.
After testing possible solutions, a simple approach began to stand out: installing netting over or beside the glass panels. The nets make the barrier visible to birds while allowing players to keep using the courts. Reports from Spanish sites suggest the method can reduce collisions dramatically and in some places bring them close to zero.
The practical value is the best part of the story. Not every environmental fix requires a new machine, a long legal fight or a complete redesign. Sometimes the answer is cheap, visible and easy enough for many clubs to copy.
Spain now has a working example that can be used wherever glass sports structures sit close to bird habitat. The courts stay open, the sport keeps growing, and fewer birds die because they cannot see a wall.
Source: The Times