Dozens of White Storks Electrocuted Near Jordan Valley Waste Site, Environmentalists Warn

Dozens of white storks were found dead on Sunday in the Jordan Valley due to electrocution from power poles near the Toblan waste site, north of the Petzal junction. Yotam Bashan, a senior ornithologist at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), documented the scene and counted about 30 dead or remains of storks along a dirt road adjacent to the power lines. The site attracts many migrating storks during this season, but exposed electrical components on the poles pose a fatal risk. Bashan explained that the birds often perch or spread their wings on the poles, potentially touching two points with different electrical charges simultaneously, causing a lethal electric circuit through their bodies.

Dr. Yoav Perlman, head of SPNI's ornithology center, noted that the Toblan waste and adjacent compost sites have been death traps for white storks and black kites for over a decade, with multiple power lines owned by the Israel Electric Corporation in the area. Although some poles have been insulated or buried in recent years at the request of the Nature and Parks Authority, many remain unprotected, especially transformer poles, which are costly to shield. Perlman urged the Israel Electric Corporation to immediately insulate or bury all high-voltage lines near Toblan and called on the Jordan Valley Regional Council to prevent such deadly hazards at these sites.

The white stork is a prominent migratory species passing through Israel, with about half a million individuals crossing each migration season, representing half the global population. Perlman emphasized that these birds face numerous threats along their migration routes, including hunting and infrastructure hazards. He highlighted Israel's international commitments to protect migratory birds and urged the government to fulfill its obligations by resolving this recurring electrocution issue once and for all. The Israel Electric Corporation has not yet responded to requests for comment.