A new study by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) shows a significant reduction in bird mortality after the safety measures were implemented on electricity distribution lines in the Burgas lakes area. The report was prepared within the framework of the Safe Network for Burgas Lakes project, carried out jointly with Electrodistribution South, and assesses the effectiveness of the insulation covers and diverters installed on 20 kilovolt power lines.
The data indicate a serious drop in mortality - from 24 individuals per kilometer in 2022 to 3 individuals per kilometer in 2025. This represents a reduction of over 80 percent compared to the initial values. In most of the secured areas in 2025, no victims were found, which means 100% effectiveness of the measures, the BSPB pointed out.
In the period March - November 2025, 87 kilometers of secured power lines were inspected, and a total of 50 dead birds were found as a result of electric shock. The most affected species remains the white stork, and the area between the villages of Bratovo and Ravnets is defined as the most risky, where tens of thousands of storks gather due to the proximity to the waste landfill.
The analysis confirms that the targeted securing of the network has a direct positive effect on the preservation of biodiversity. In addition to protecting birds, the measures also lead to a reduction in emergency shutdowns for electricity consumers in the area.
In June 2023, the first stage of the activities to secure the electricity distribution network in the Burgas region was completed. Within the framework of the initiative, protective insulation was installed on over 950 medium-voltage poles. The measure aims to simultaneously reduce bird mortality from electric shock and improve the reliability of the power supply. In 2025, the implementation of the international project under the LIFE program of the European Union “Safe Network for Birds in Southeast Europe” began, in which “Electrodistribution South” is a leading partner. The initiative is carried out in cooperation with the BSPB and organizations from the Republic of North Macedonia and Turkey. It is aimed at protecting the imperial eagle and the Egyptian vulture by installing insulation and diverters on the electricity transmission network.