Tatiana Atemasova
This project looks at the restoration of man-made nests in the regions with the stable decline of stork population and involves the population in renewal of old traditions of stork protection.
The people of Ukraine maintain old tradition concerning storks; this bird serves as the talisman and symbol. The counts of 2005 in 5 administrative districts of Kharkov Region showed that many man-made nests became worthless and need repairing, besides natural nests on the trees (photo 1) being destroyed for various reasons. All these factors lead to general decrease in number of nesting birds.
It is high time to carry out new mass counts of White Stork nests in the Kharkov Region. The list of nests needs to be updated. In different parts of the region, the population trends are influenced by different factors; the ascertainment of these factors is crucial for the conservation management.
Restoration of stork nests in the areas where storks were earlier a common species, advertising of nest making, involving all section of the population in stork protection. With these methods, revivification of the White Stork population in North-eastern Ukraine will be ensured. We plan to involve schools, young naturalists clubs, and institutions of local administrative institutions in this job. 25 stork nests are planned to be reconstructed in 17 settlements. We expect these nests to be settled next year.
Protection of rare species is impossible without participation of various sections of the society. The local citizens will be involved in practice of nature conservation. A network of correspondents among school teachers and nature-fanciers, organized in the course of project, will signalize about all tendencies in storks’ life. Propaganda among children and their help in stork protection will form a positive attitude to the wildlife in young generation. Publications in local and regional newspapers, reportage for radio and TV, a poster with an advertising of positive experience in man-made nests setting are planned.
Setting platforms on electric line poles (photo 2) in one district will serve an example for decision makers in the other districts of how to solve out the conflict between technical progress and birds, and to avoid material losses. They allow raising a nest 1 m above the pole top, preventing damages of the lines, and saving birds’ lives. Earlier we counted 103 nests on electric poles in Kharkov Region. To begin with, we plan to make 14 special platforms in one administrative district.
Investigation in the other 20 administrative districts will allow forming a general idea in tendencies and problems of the stork population, and working out further politics in protection activities.