The storks returned to nests in the Kyiv region, mounted by DTEK energy workers earlier
Over the course of two years, in order to ensure safety of birds DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids has been mounting special artificial platforms on the power towers, where storks built their nests. It was done in autumn, when the storks migrated to warmer areas. It helps protect birds from electrocution and company’s customers – from blackouts. During this time, energy workers have relocated over 97 nests to the protective platforms, including 56 platforms that DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids specialists installed at the end of last year within the large-scale environmental education project #EnergyWings.
One of the nests, reinforced by energy workers in the Bucha district within the project ##EnergyWings, is over 30 years old. It weighs over 300 kilograms. Back then, local resident Natalia recalled, that the nest used to stand on an old sallow, but during the storm the tree could not withstand it and cracked. Her father then saved the birds. A little stork, whose wounded limb he healed, grew up and used to follow him around the yard like a child. Every spring Natalia, now with her grandchildren, is waiting for the return of birds.
This spring, she was also looking for “her” birds, who did not hurry.
“This is probably because of fierce battles near the village. Only after liberation of territories from invaders by the AFU it became quiet there and the stork returned, – says Natalia. – He came back on April 7, and then came his couple. That is how storks returned home, to their native land. And now they settled in their new reinforced home.”
This year, majority of the electrical infrastructure in the Kyiv region was damaged due to hostilities. Nevertheless, where the grids remained intact, the birds returned to “safe nests”, mounted by energy workers earlier.
“The birds returned to their safe nests. They are settling in familiar spots and getting ready to laying eggs and bringing out nestlings. We will keep monitoring condition of nests on the protective structures, as far as the situation permits,” – says representative of the company.
As stated earlier, besides 56 special platforms for storks nesting, in 2021, DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids has also installed over 500 special covers on power lines to protect birds from electrocution and 30 artificial nests for long-eared owls and scoops. Environmentalists estimate that such business initiatives over the course of past 2 years helped save almost 700 birds, including those protected by the Berne Convention and the Red Book of Ukraine.
Energy workers plan to continue implementing biodiversity protection projects in the Kyiv region after the war.