By the end of last week Bukovyna was almost completely free of snow, but as a result of the cyclone activity in the area got a monthly rainfall in just a few days. Because of this, the height of the snow outside the city reached nearly a meter. Heavy and wet snow doesn’t allow migratory birds to rest and search for food, mainly the storks that migrate over this territory. On March 23 and 24 flocks of wet storks in dozens and even up to 200 were flying over the fields outside Chernivtsi. “The main migration route of white storks goes over the valley of the Prut River,” said Ihor Skilsky, Ph.D. in Biology, ornithologist, head of the Wildlife Department at Chernivtsi Museum of Regional Ethnography. “Up to 800 pairs of storks nest in the oblast every year. After having some rest and getting some food in the valley of the Prut River they fly to their nesting places.”
But this year it’s been hard for them and people came to rescue the birds. “When we learned about birds’ problem, we mobilized all nature lovers of the region,” said Borys Bahlei, head of the Regional Department of Environmental Protection. “Ornithologists have warned us that we should not in any case feed the storks with bread or grain, thus, on our appeal the fishing control service promptly provided 0.5 ton of minnows and other small fish. We took the gift fish and went to the places where storks stayed. Fortunately, the birds have not yet gotten weak, they are still strong and can fly on. Most of them have already left the valley of Prut River and reached the places of permanent breeding. However, given the fact that it’s going to be snowy and cold until the end of the week, we keep the situation under control. In addition to feeding we also organize night duty to protect the sleeping birds from attacks of stray dogs and foxes.”
Environmentalists also appealed to residents of Bukovyna asking them to feed the birds until the snow melts down.
Earlier, the media reported about cases of birds rescue in Ivano-Frankivsk.
