Experts in bird conservation from around the world gathered in Bratislava

Picture: Yordanka Lukanova - BSPB

Every year, millions of birds from over 380 species, including critically endangered ones, die as a result of collisions with power lines or electrocution when landing on dangerous poles and installations. Reducing these risks is one of the most serious challenges facing biodiversity conservation in the modern world.

This very issue was the focus of the international conference “Free Sky for Birds 2026,” held from March 10–12 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The event brought together experts who exchanged experience, presented innovative solutions, and discussed opportunities for strengthening international cooperation.

Experts from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and Green Balkans, part of the “Life for the Falcon” project team, also took part in the conference. Anton Stamenov from the BSPB team presented Bulgaria’s experience in securing the electricity transmission network, as well as its use to improve nesting opportunities for many bird species by installing nest platforms on poles.

The saker falcon, whose main food source is small rodents inhabiting open areas, often uses electrical poles as perches for resting and hunting. This makes it particularly vulnerable to the threat of electrocution, and insulating dangerous poles in the species’ range is one of the measures that significantly reduces its mortality.

The conference brought together 140 experts from 26 countries—representatives of environmental organizations, scientific institutions, government authorities, energy and railway companies, as well as manufacturers of protective equipment. The event marked the conclusion of the “Safe Flight for Danube Birds” project and provided an opportunity for knowledge exchange, presentation of best practices, and acceleration of efforts to protect birds and their habitats.