100 storks ringed in Odesa region since the beginning of full-scale invasion

On June 30, ornithologists and employees of DTEK Odesa Electricity Distribution Networks, an electricity distribution operator, ringed storks in nests on power poles in the village of Mykhailopil, Odesa district.

Oleksandr Haidash, a researcher at the Danube Biosphere Reserve, told Intent that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 300 birds have been ringed in total, and about 100 storks have been ringed in Odesa region, and storks have been ringed in Dnipro region.

The storks are being banded as part of the international environmental project MTO (Małopolskiego Towarzystwa Ornitologicznego).

According to the ornithologist, the war has less of an impact on storks in Odesa Oblast than changes in the food supply.

"In the war zone, of course, it has a great impact, because nests are destroyed by shelling and birds die, but in Odesa region we notice that storks become more frightened by the passage of loud drones, but not to that extent. The stork is a synanthropic bird species. It has long been nesting next to humans and is used to loud noises. For example, agricultural machinery," the scientist noted.

Last year, flamingos left the colony they founded the year before due to the activity of drones. This year, they are also trying to settle in the Tuzly Estuaries National Park in Odesa region.

In 2023, representatives of DTEK Odesa Power Grids, together with People's Artist of Ukraine Borys Barskyi and Director of the Odesa Zoo Ihor Belyakov, installed platforms for placing white stork nests on power poles.

In July of the same year, ornithologists from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and representatives of DTEK Odesa Power Grids banded the chicks of the white storks.

The white stork is a bird of the stork family, the stork order. They feed mainly on small animals, such as earthworms, insects, frogs, mice, fish, and sometimes carrion. It does not belong to the endangered bird species. Unlike the black stork, which is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

The stork is the national bird of Belarus, and in Moldova, the stork has become a symbol of viticulture and winemaking. It is often depicted with a bunch of grapes in its beak.

In Ukraine, the stork is considered a harbinger of spring. The image of this bird appears on the coats of arms of several Ukrainian cities, including Ananiev in Odesa region.

Кирило Бойко