Almost 500 storks have settled in safe platforms, installed by DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids specialists
“Due to active hostilities energy infrastructure of the Kyiv region was destroyed to the ground in some towns and villages and our specialists had to restore it almost from the scratch. That is why we understood that due to the war not all storks had a place to return to this year. Caring of birds’ safety, our specialists have checked if the nests, installed on platforms, survived and the birds are safe. Ecologists estimate that almost 500 birds have settled in “safe homes”, 270 of them are nestlings. This is a good sign. After all, if storks returned to our nests, then we believe that peace will return to Ukraine soon,” – informed the company.
In two years, energy workers have relocated over 99 nests to safe platforms, including 58 platforms that DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids specialists have installed at the end of last year within the large-scale environmental education project #EnergyWings.
In order to ensure safety of birds, DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids has been installing special artificial platforms on the electrical poles, where storks built their nests. It was done in autumn, while the storks were in their wintering grounds. Artificial platforms for nesting are durable baskets made of metal rods. They are attached to an electrical pole above the level of electrical wires. Such structure does not allow a heavy nest to slide down on the lines. It protects the nest from destruction, birds from electrocution and lines from short circuits and unscheduled outages.
A short video of company’s specialists inspecting platforms for storks nesting is available via the following links:
Besides platforms, 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. Such initiatives helped protect birds from dying, including those protected by the Berne Convention and the Red Book of Ukraine.
Energy workers will continue implementing biodiversity protection projects in the Kyiv region after the war.