Long-Term Care for an Injured Stork Named Buzka
In the town of Baturyn in Chernihiv region, the Bakurov family has been nurturing a stork called Buzka for 15 years. This bird lost part of its wing after becoming entangled in electrical wires during its first attempts to fly. Unable to take flight, Buzka lives close to humans and has recovered thanks to the family’s dedicated treatment, including the application of burn ointment to heal its wounds.
Vira Bakurova recalls a memorable moment:
“My grandson shouted, ‘Grandpa, look! Someone’s coming to us.’ I opened the gate, and there he was. He came up, looked around, then stepped into the yard.”
Buzka consumes about 300 grams of fish daily, costing the family roughly 800 hryvnias each month. Vira admits with a smile, “Our relationship is complicated because he takes my money. I’d rather spend 200 hryvnias on candy for myself, but instead, I buy him fish worth that amount every week.” Besides fish, Buzka enjoys worms and mice. The stork rarely wanders far from home and during winter stays sheltered in a barn, where a cozy straw nest is prepared for him.
Vira adds:
“When we open the door, he walks on the snow, follows the paths, looks around, makes a clicking sound, then returns to the barn. They say storks can withstand temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius.”
Protecting Bird Species in Ukraine
Buzka shows no fear of rainy weather and even bathes in the rain, demonstrating how well he has adapted to living near people. “When it rains, you can’t hide him anywhere; he just stands there,” Vira explains.
Bird conservation efforts are active across Ukraine. For instance, in the National Nature Park 'Pyriatynskyi,' all four chicks of storks Hrytsyk and Odarka successfully took their first flights.
It’s important to highlight that:
- One in every nine migratory bird species worldwide faces the risk of extinction.
- Populations of 45% of migratory birds, including cuckoos, turtle doves, and Arctic terns, are in decline.
Conservation initiatives in various countries are helping restore certain bird populations. Near Zhashkiv in Cherkasy region, a couple rescued a black vulture named Berlin, who had traveled from Bulgaria. Born in a German zoo, Berlin was fitted with a GPS tracker before migration but was found in Ukraine weakened and with an injured leg.
This story highlights the significant impact individuals can have on wildlife rescue and underscores the urgent need to protect birds facing numerous natural threats. Cases like Buzka’s show how human care can create safe environments for animals in need and demonstrate the positive effects active conservation can have on preserving biodiversity in Ukraine and beyond.