Safe Nests: How DTEK Dnipro Grids Specialists Prepared for the Return of Storks
We are ready for the return of storks. DTEK Dnipro Grids has erected 145 platforms with nests in the Dnipropetrovsk Region. Power engineers have simultaneously ensured the safety of birds from electric shock and safeguarded customers against emergency power outages. The installation of special structures for birds is the fulfillment in practice of the obligations that DTEK assumed under the UN Global Compact.
With the beginning of spring, nests were arranged in Solonyansky, Mezhivsky and Nikopolsky, as well as Pavlogradsky, Petropavlivsky, Tsarichansky and Krivorizhsky districts. Prior to quarantine, a dozen new platforms were installed, including in the village of Chkalovo, Nikopol district. A local resident reported the need for a special construction on the DTEK Dnipro Grids Facebook page.
“The client turned to us and informed us that storks came to one of the streets and they had nowhere to nest. The structure was mounted next to the electric power pylon, where the storks are trying to create a nest. In total, over the six years of the ornithological safety program’s existence, we have already installed 145 platforms for storks. This is a consistent fulfillment of environmental obligations that DTEK assumed in 2007 under the UN Global Compact”, said DTEK Dnipro Grids CEO Andrii Tereshchuk.
DTEK Dnipro Grids experts regularly inspect power grids. They arranged specific areas around the electric power pylons where storks could nest. And after that, they closely watched after them so that the birds would not cause any accidents.
When the birds fly south, the nests are reinforced with a special metal structure above the level of the overhead electric grid. Thus, creating conditions for the safety of the birds and make it impossible for emergency shutdowns that can occur due to nests sliding on wires.
In addition to the nests for storks, power engineers installed reflective markers on high-voltage grids that make the grids visible to birds in flight. More than 500 such protective devices were mounted in 2019 in the territory of the Bulakhovsky estuary nature reserve in the Pavlogradsky district. They also installed wooden and metal nests for the Red Book pigeon-clintukh and mounted special casings on insulators and wires. This makes it safe for birds and eliminates the risk of power outages for customers.
You can watch how the platforms for stork nests are installed in a short video review on the LINK.
The installation of new sockets has been suspended during quarantine. All efforts are currently focused on repairs. Emergency technical and repair crews continue their work. Caring for customers, DTEK Dnipro Grids acts in the interests of Ukraine and does everything necessary to ensure the supply of reliable power to the cities and villages of the Dnipropetrovsk region.