White storks are iconic migratory birds whose welfare during long-distance migrations and on wintering grounds is affected by power lines, pesticides, and changing land use patterns.
Individual storks face serious welfare risks from electrocution and power line collisions, exhaustion during migration across the Sahara, and starvation on degraded wintering grounds. Birds injured by power lines often require extensive rehabilitation. Insulating power lines and restoring wetland habitats along migration routes are among the most effective interventions for stork welfare and population recovery.