Every year, white storks return to their nests along the road between Mirzakent and Zhetisay in Kazakhstan, nesting atop old power line poles. Their presence is a familiar part of local life and culture.
"For generations, the storks have been a part of us," said one elder. "Their return each spring is a promise of renewal, a sign that all is well in our world."
This year, Kazakhstan’s Second Irrigation and Drainage Improvement Project (IDIP-2) aimed to support farmers by building a new irrigation pumping station. The project required new power lines for its operation.
During a site assessment in April, contractor LLC Akelik Group found that some poles set for wire installation were occupied by nesting storks with chicks not yet able to fly.
“During project implementation, the contractor saw the nests with the chicks and identified that these were rare and protected birds," said Yerlan Sadvokassov, Project Coordinator of the Project Management Unit (Committee of Water Resources under the Ministry of Water Recourses and Irrigation). “The project couldn't proceed at the expense of these protected birds, so the decision was made to seek an alternative solution."
White storks are protected under Kazakhstan’s national laws, including regulations from 2004 and listings in the country’s Red Book of endangered animals. Disturbing nesting storks during breeding season is illegal.
Recognizing this, construction was paused so that chicks could mature undisturbed. Environmental authorities and zoology experts recommended leaving active nests alone and conducting work at a safe distance to avoid scaring away adult birds before fledglings could leave.
"Their survival depends entirely on our patience and respect for their natural cycle," said Saken Baigulov, Environmental and Social Consultant at the Project Management Unit.
The contractor will wait until after fledging before moving empty nests to new poles nearby. This approach aims to protect young birds while ensuring they have places to nest when they return next season.
Each fall, Turkestan white storks migrate south to South Asia and Africa before returning in spring to breed again.
"This project shows that sustainable development isn't just about infrastructure; it's about integrating with, and respecting, the natural world around us," said Sanjay Srivastava, Environment Department Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia Region.
Winston Yu, Water Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia Region, added: "It's a model for how we can build a better future, together. This irrigation project will carry the memory of a time when construction paused—for nature, for beauty, and for the promise to a livable planet."