DTEK Renewables continues to take care of biodiversity by supporting the Bird Islands environmental project on the Tylihul Estuary in Mykolaiv region. This year, the company released the first Atlas of the Bird Islands, which will be made public. It is planned that the Atlas will be published annually in the spring and will be a project report on the impact of artificial islands on the biodiversity of the region.
The author of the Atlas is Ihor Herzhyk, Head of the Research and Development Unit of the Tylihulskyi Regional Landscape Park (RLP), a recognised ornithologist of Ukraine and an honoured photographer. Throughout 2024, he studied the process of bird nesting and breeding, including on artificial islands. The research was conducted to study the project's efficiency and opportunities for improvement
‘We constantly monitor the state of the bird fauna on the territory of the Tylihul Estuary,’ says Ihor Herzhyk, Head of the Research Unit at the Tylihulskyi RLP, author and executor of the study. – 'Recent observations have shown that despite the russian shelling of southern Ukraine, the bird migration route on the Tylihul Estuary has not changed. The birds are returning and nesting successfully. Compared to 2021, the number of pairs nesting on the ‘bird islands’ has increased from 195 to 385, and the success rate of hatching chicks has increased to 90%.’
As a wetland, the Tylihul Estuary plays an extremely important role in the natural functioning of shallow water ecosystems in the northern part of the Black Sea region. It is a nesting place for rare bird species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and the European Red List. The estuary is home to 286 species of birds that can be found throughout the year, accounting for about 70% of Ukraine's total bird fauna.
According to the results of the study mentioned in the Bird Islands Atlas, this project contributes to the conservation of the endangered bird species. The following birds nested and raised their young on the artificial platforms last year: Common tern (Sterna hirundo), Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), and Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrines). In particular, the Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrines) are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.
‘Bird Islands is DTEK Renewables' contribution to the conservation of Ukraine's bird fauna. We understand the importance of the project and therefore plan to support it in the future. This year, we are releasing the first Atlas of the Bird Islands to have an annual objective report on the impact of the environmental project on the estuary's birdlife. The Atlas will also help us share our experience and develop the project in the future,' says Oleh Solovei, DTEK Renewables Deputy CEO.
In addition, ahead of the spring bird migration season, the company, in cooperation with the Tylihulskyi Regional Landscape Park, financed the repair of artificial platforms and covered them with hay to improve nesting and breeding conditions.
Back in 2021, DTEK Renewables was approached by the management of Tylihulskyi Regional Landscape Park with a request to build artificial islands for birds to nest in order to protect them from predators and other dangers. So far, 1,500 m2 of wooden platforms have been built. Every year, DTEK Renewables allocates funds to cover the bird islands with hay and dry grass, thereby supporting the improvement of conditions for future generations of birds.
According to the Ramsar Convention (Iran, Ramsar, 1971), the Tylihul Estuary has the status of a wetland of international importance, is recognised as an important area for the conservation of species and quantitative diversity of birds, and is a part of the Emerald Network.
To read the Atlas of the Bird Islands eco-project, please follow the link.
