
The cooperation between conservationists and specialists in energetics helps to save the Oriental stork
WWF and the Amur Coalition of environmental NGOs declared 2018 - the Year of the Oriental stork. According to the expert estimates the world population of this bird species comes at about 4 000 individuals. WWF Russia considers that since the beginning of 2000 the numbers of the Oriental stork in Amurskaya province have doubled, among other things thanks to the protection measures on the objects of electric grid infrastructure.
Statistically, every fifth disturbance of operating regime on Russian power transmission lines is bird-related. Large bird species such as Oriental stork are in a high risk group. The only possible solution for their protection is the mounting of anti-landing devices and safe platforms for nests. This equipment is mounted on 52 out of 59 main transmission lines within the Oriental stork home range. Members of the expedition visited the nesting sites on 220 kV transmission lines “Blagoveschenskaya-Varvarovka”. The storks build nests and bring out chicks on specially mounted safe platforms.