Dozens of migrating storks die on power lines in northwestern Turkey

Dozens of migrating storks died on power lines in northwestern Turkey, raising concerns over the safety of migratory birds and the impact of human infrastructure on their survival. The incidents were reported in late August 2024, with local residents discovering nearly 30 dead storks near a high-voltage power line in the Marmaraereğlisi district of Tekirdağ. Additional fatalities were documented around Küçükçekmece Lake, just outside Istanbul, where electric railway lines form part of an ongoing high-speed rail project linking Istanbul to Edirne. The deaths appear to be linked to electrocution caused by exposure to high-voltage lines. Local environmental volunteers noted that while such occurrences happen annually, the scale of the current incident has drawn more attention. Mine Olgaç, chair of the Marmaraereğlisi Environmental Volunteers Association, described the situation as unprecedented in its severity, emphasizing that the phenomenon was previously underreported. Istanbul sits on one of the primary migration corridors between Europe and Africa, alongside the Iberian Peninsula-Gibraltar route. Storks travel this path each spring, flying from their African wintering grounds to European breeding sites. According to the Migration Atlas, the European breeding population of storks ranges between 224,000 and 247,000 pairs. A significant portion of the eastern population passes through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, continuing into the Middle East and eventually reaching eastern and southern Africa. Between 2006 and 2010, field surveys recorded between 50,000 and 120,000 storks traversing Istanbul. This highlights the city’s critical role in the annual migration cycle. However, the recent fatalities underscore growing challenges faced by these birds. Dr. Ergün Bacak, a wildlife expert at İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, stressed the importance of implementing protective measures, particularly in the northwestern region of Thrace, where new infrastructure projects are underway. In response to the crisis, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) initiated a scientific study and implemented preliminary safeguards, including insulation and deterrent devices aimed at preventing birds from perching on electrical infrastructure. Further steps will depend on findings from the assessment, with the goal of reducing interactions between migratory birds and railway electrification systems. Birdwatcher and activist Erdem Kuruca warned that without intervention, the casualty rate could have exceeded several hundred. Kuruca also pointed out that similar incidents had occurred in Küçükçekmece in prior years but went unpublicized. During a radio interview on Apaçık Radyo, he highlighted that local residents and frequent visitors had witnessed these deaths without reporting them widely. He urged continued vigilance, stressing the need to maintain awareness of such issues even within major urban centers like Istanbul. Experts suggest that habitat loss forces some migratory birds, including storks, to seek alternative resting spots, often leading them to perch on power lines. Dr. Bacak explained that storks avoid the ground due to predation risks from animals like jackals and stray dogs. While many birds can safely perch on electrical wires, storks, due to their large wingspan, are more vulnerable to electrocution. Efforts to mitigate the problem include increased ornithological monitoring before the construction of new power lines and wind turbines in Thrace. Such measures aim to identify and address potential hazards in advance. As the migration season progresses, the focus remains on ensuring that human infrastructure does not inadvertently contribute to the decline of these iconic birds.