The birds are safe and so are the grids: DTEK Dnipro Grids specialists helped the storks upon request of local residents

DTEK Dnipro Grids specialists designed a special steel platform that will hold a heavy nest and protect the birds from electrocution, and customers – from power outages. They used a truck crane to lift the structure and install it at a safe height over the power lines. The bottom was covered with the remnants of the old nest, so that the storks could “recognize” and accept their home upon their return. 

“Despite the war, we develop the grids based on the principles of sustainable development. With the arrival of spring, we have resumed installing platforms for nests withing the framework of the #EnergyWings project. This helps save the nests and prevent emergencies, caused by its collapse on the wires. We were lucky that the stork nest in Novomoskovsk was still empty and did not touch the power lines when it fell. And thanks to the caring residents, energy workers managed to restore and reinforce the nest in time, before the storks return from wintering. In March, we plan to relocate 7 stork nests in the Dnipropetrovsk region on the secure structures, and three more – this fall,” – informed DTEK Dnipro Grids CEO Andrii Tereshchuk. 

A family of white storks comes to Novomoskovsk for several years now. The birds settled on the pole near the houses. Over the past three years, there were three to five chicks born in the nest made by storks. Over time, their home has tilted under its weight and finally collapsed during bad weather. So, local residents asked energy workers for help. 

“We have been following this couple and their chicks for a long time. Every spring, a hope for peaceful life returns with them. We are grateful to the energy workers, who helped save their home. And we hope that the storks will appreciate their new apartment,” – says local resident Kateryna Kutsiuruba. 

Over the past 11 years, DTEK Dnipro Grids specialists have already reinforced more than 200 stork nests on the poles. More than 20 of those have been installed during the full-scale war. Energy workers discover the nests during scheduled inspections of the grids, and with the help of caring customers. The platforms helped not only prevent power outages for tens of thousands of customers, but also protected at least 4,000 specimens of the white stork. All that is a continuation of the DTEK global policy for sustainable development in compliance with the goals of the UN Global Compact related to preservation of terrestrial ecosystems.