The Stork Dilemma: When Development Meets Wildlife in Kazakhstan

Every year, white storks (Ciconia ciconia) return to their nests along the road between Mirzakent and Zhetisay in Kazakhstan, settling atop aging power line poles to raise their chicks. Their arrival is a familiar and welcome sight to residents-a sign of harmony, renewal, and the enduring rhythm of nature. Their massive nests, perched high above the steppe, are part of the cultural and ecological identity of the area.

"For generations, the storks have been a part of us," shared one elder. "Their return each spring is a promise of renewal, a sign that all is well in our world."

But this summer a delicate balance between progress and preservation unfolded in this quiet corner of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is implementing a Second Irrigation and Drainage Improvement Project (IDIP-2) to better support farmers and improve agricultural resilience in the face of increasingly dry seasons.

Plans were set in motion in April to build a small irrigation pumping station, which required the installation of new power lines, essential to operating the station.

During a routine site assessment, the contractor, LLC Akelik Group, made a critical observation: several of the poles scheduled for wire installation were home to nesting storks, with young chicks not yet ready 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."

In Kazakhstan, the white stork is protected under national legislation-including the 2004 Law "On the Protection, Reproduction and Use of Wildlife" and Government Decree No. 1034, which lists the species in the Republic of Kazakhstan's Red Book of endangered animals. Interfering with nesting storks, particularly during breeding season, is prohibited by law and considered a direct threat to the species.

Realizing the implications, the installation work was paused to let the storks finish raising their chicks.

Environmental authorities, together with experts from the Institute of Zoology, issued clear recommendations. To protect nesting storks, it was essential to leave poles with active nests undisturbed and carry out any construction activities at a safe distance. The main concern was that if construction started before fledglings had left the nests in fall, the noise and proximity of heavy equipment could scare away the adult birds. The eggs and chicks would be left behind, and most likely perish.

"Their survival depends entirely on our patience and respect for their natural cycle," says Saken Baigulov, Environmental and Social Consultant at the Project Management Unit.

The contractor is patiently waiting when the chicks fledge, and the storks to take flight. Once the nests are empty, they will be carefully moved to newly installed poles nearby. This effort protects the young during their most vulnerable stage while ensuring safe homes await their return next season.

Each fall, Turkestan white storks gather in flocks and migrate south to South Asia and Africa, where they winter until February. In March, they return to raise a new generation-a cycle of renewal that embodies nature's resilience.

"This project shows that sustainable development isn't just about infrastructure; it's about integrating with, and respecting, the natural world around us," says Sanjay Srivastava, Environment Department Practice Manager, Europe and Central Asia Region.

Moments like these remind us that true progress is measured not only in what we build, but in the care, we show for the planet. By pausing for the stork family and giving them safe nesting, this project demonstrates that development and nature need not be in conflict. They can move forward hand in hand.

"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," says Winston Yu, Water Practice Manager for the Europe and Central Asia Region.