Overview

• On July 7 at 5:15 AM in Goldkronach, fallen branches from a stork’s nest attempt on a Bayernwerk high-voltage mast caused a short circuit that cut power to about 1,200 households across Goldkronach, Bad Berneck and Bindlach.
• Crews cleared the debris and restored electricity by 7:15 AM, and on-site inspections confirmed the bird was unharmed.
• Experts say nesting season for white storks normally ends by mid-May, making this early July construction effort highly irregular.
• Bayernwerk uses fluttering ribbons and small windmills on its masts to deter birds but admits these measures cannot fully prevent nesting incidents.
• The rebound in white stork populations under conservation protections continues to challenge utilities’ efforts to safeguard grid reliability.