For another year ENERGO-PRO takes care of the conservation of the white stork population in Northeastern Bulgaria

The company installs special platforms for stork nests to protect migratory birds

ENERGO-PRO Networks also applies measures to protect the white storks that fly to their homes located on the territory of Northeastern Bulgaria every spring. Migratory birds often build their nests on electrical poles. The proximity of power lines creates conditions for the feathered to touch them with their wings and be injured. On the other hand, birds cause damage to the electrical network and power outages for residents of nearby settlements.

Back in 2008, the electricity distribution company, together with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), launched an initiative for the conservation of the white stork and other migratory birds that fly in our country. To do this, the specialists of ENERGO-PRO Networks install special platforms on which they place the bird's nest. In this way, it remains at a safe distance from the electrical wires.

Activities on the “lifting” of nests are carried out before the spring and after the autumn migration of storks, so that they are not disturbed during their stay in our country. A characteristic feature of the protected species is its attachment to the constructed nest. Every year, the couple returns to their home to raise their offspring. Therefore, it is especially important to keep the nest on the same pillar on which it was built.

For the last 9 years, ENERGO-PRO Networks employees have installed hundreds of platforms for stork nests. 16 new ones have been installed in different areas of North-East Bulgaria during the current spring season. Stork couples already live in their safe homes in the village of Gorna Rositsa, municipality of Sevlievo and village of Resen, municipality of Veliko Tarnovo. Another 12 platforms were placed in the villages of Trbach and Kamenar, Razgrad district, in the villages of Belomortsi, Zvezditsa, Stevrek, Kamburovo, Gorno Novkovo, Petrino, Targovishte region and in the village of Marash, Shumen district.

In addition to the installation of platforms for stork nests since 2012 ENERGO-PRO Grids implements additional measures to protect migratory birds in the territory served by the company. Entirely at their own expense and in coordination with RIOSV in the period 2012-2016 specialists of the company installed 370 bird guards on electric poles. Together with BSPB, nearly 400 insulations of pillars have been made. The measures taken are aimed at securing the facilities and preventing short circuits when migratory birds come into contact with live parts of the power line.

In the summer season, platform installation activities are suspended in order to ensure a peaceful residence of the protected species and breeding of offspring. The joint initiatives of ENERGO-PRO Networks with the company for the protection of birds will continue in the future. According to the cooperation agreement signed last year, hundreds of new socket platforms and insulations are planned to be installed on poles of the power distribution network.