The plant, which is owned by BrightSource and Google, uses 300,000 mirrors to focus sunlight on receivers atop three 140m towers on a sprawling 3,500-acre land.

In 2013, US wildlife investigators visited the plant and watched as birds that fly through the concentrated sunlight got burned and fell at an average rate of about one for every two minutes, according to media reports.

The operator plans to expand the facility further. However, the investigators want to halt any further plans for expansion until a complete assessment on the bird deaths at the facility is done, reports CBC News.

Center for Biological Diversity wildlife researcher and ecologist Kenneth Shawn Smallwood was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that this solar project has a huge impact on birds in the area.

According to this environmental group, about 28,000 birds die annually from flying through the focused sunlight.

In response to media reports, BrightSource senior vice president for governmental affairs and communications Joe Desmond noted, "Let’s be clear: No one disputes that certain levels of concentrated solar flux present a risk to birds."

However, while considering the impact of the company’s solar technology has on birds flying through the focused sunlight, it is important to note the other leading causes of bird deaths, Desmond adds.

Pointing to the statistics, Desmond says that an estimated 1.4-3.7 billion birds are killed each year by cats; about 980 million birds crash into buildings every year; 174 million birds die from power lines annually; up to 340 million birds die from vehicles/roads; about 6.8 million birds die flying into communications towers; about 1 million die annually in oil and gas fluid waste pits; and up to 330,000 die every year from wind turbines.

Desmond says that the company is committed to minimizing avian impacts at the projects utilizing its technology. "We support the use of technologically advanced cameras, radars and audio systems to assist in detecting, monitoring and deterring bird movement in and around solar facilities."