DTEK Dnipro Grids electricians saved two injured storks
DTEK electricians saved two injured storks in the Dnipropetrovsk region – a nestling that fell out of the nest and an adult bird with injured wing. Both were taken to the animal shelter, where they will be taken care of and recover. Despite the war and focusing all efforts on restoration of damaged electrical infrastructure after shelling, energy workers do not stop taking care of birds nesting on power poles. #StorkInTheNestPeaceInUkraine – was the slogan of the emergency crews that inspected surviving nests on protective platforms during spring and summer. In the autumn, if the situation allows, they will continue implementing #EnergyWings project and install 10 more safe nests in the region.
When working in the village of Pysarivka, DTEK Dnipro Grids specialists found out from the locals that a nestling fell out of the nest, reinforced last year within the #EnergyWings project. It injured its wing and paw. Energy workers volunteered to help and take the nestling to the animal shelter for treatment. When a stork will recover enough, it will be set free to its natural habitat.
Upon locals’ request, energy workers also took another injured bird to the animal shelter with the nestling. It was an adult one. Last year, a local family discovered it near the village. A damaged wing prevented it from flying south and it stayed with people. Now, the stork will get proper care in the shelter.
“DTEK Dnipro Grids continues to keep an eye on safety of birds and preservation of nests on the power poles within the DTEK Grids initiative #StorkInTheNestPeaceInUkraine. Over the course of past 9 years, we have reinforced 180 stork nests in the Dnipropetrovsk region, including 20 – last year within the #EnergyWings project. We are happy to see that, despite of war, storks have returned to the Dnipropetrovsk region and settled in more than 80% of “safe nests”. This autumn, if the situation allows, we plan to continue implementing the project and install 10 more platforms,” – informed the company.
Energy workers plan to install five nests in Pavlohrad district and Tomakivka community. Another 5 – in Krynychky and Tsarychanka. Relocation of nests to the artificial platforms on power poles is carried out in late autumn and spring – when the storks fly south. It helps protect birds from the threat of electrocution and customers of the company – from blackouts.
As informed earlier, at the end of last year DTEK Dnipro Grids has also installed 716 bird diverters and covers on power lines to protect birds from electrocution, as well as 37 artificial nests for birds of prey, such as scops owls and hobby falcons. Environmentalists estimate that these initiatives of business over the past 9 years helped save over 3700 birds from death, including the ones, protected by the Bern Convention and the Red Book of Ukraine.
After the war, energy workers plan to continue implementing biodiversity protection projects in the Dnipropetrovsk region.