Overview

• On July 7 at 5:15 am in Goldkronach, a white stork’s nest-building attempt dropped branches onto a 10-meter mast, triggering a short circuit that left homes in Goldkronach, Bad Berneck and Bindlach without power.
• Utility crews cleared the debris and re-energized the line by 7:15 am, restoring service fully and confirming the stork emerged unharmed.
• Bayernwerk AG deploys deterrents such as flutter strips and small wind turbines on high-voltage lines but acknowledges these measures often fail to prevent nesting.
• Conservation groups note that storks typically finish nest-building by mid-May, making this July construction attempt an unusual late-season behavior.
• The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of protecting growing bird populations while ensuring reliable electricity delivery as utilities refine wildlife mitigation strategies.