Electric Poles Cause Deaths of Dozens of White Storks Along Israel's Highway 90

Around 30 dead or severely injured white storks were found near the Tovlan waste site alongside Highway 90 by a birdwatcher. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority warns this is a recurring problem caused by storks perching on electrical poles, which leads to fatal electrocutions. The birds often touch two points with different electrical potentials simultaneously, completing a circuit through their bodies and resulting in death.

Yotam Bashan from the Nature and Parks Authority explained that while some poles have been protected or buried underground at the request of the authority, many remain exposed, especially transformer poles, which are more expensive to shield. Dr. Perlman urged the Israel Electric Corporation to immediately protect or bury all high-voltage lines near the Tovlan site to prevent further bird deaths. He also called on the Jordan Valley Regional Council to act to eliminate these "death traps" at the waste and adjacent compost sites.

The white stork is a prominent migratory bird, with about half of the global population passing through Israel each migration season. The birds face numerous threats along their routes, including hunting and infrastructure hazards. Israel is a signatory to international treaties protecting migratory birds, and conservationists emphasize the need for the country to fulfill its commitments by resolving this ongoing electrocution issue once and for all.