Key facts
- Bird nests made from fibre-optic cables and natural materials have been discovered near the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
- Researchers are examining these nests to document the conflict's impact on the natural environment.
- The fibre-optic cables are thin, can stretch for 20 km, and are used by troops to guide aerial drones.
- Scientists plan to conduct DNA analysis to identify the bird species that built the nests.
- One nest will be added to the War Museum's collection in Kyiv, while another will be sent for scientific study in the Netherlands.
Bird nests woven from discarded fibre-optic cables have been discovered near the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine, illustrating how the ongoing war is altering the natural environment. Researchers are studying these nests to understand the implications for avian biodiversity.
The ultra-thin fibre-optic cables, some stretching up to 20 km, are used by both Ukrainian and Russian forces to guide aerial drones, making them resistant to electronic jamming. These cables are found tangled in trees, scattered across fields, and on rooftops in frontline regions.
Yana Hrynko, a senior researcher at Kyiv's War Museum, cautiously examined two nests sent from the front lines, noting that they primarily contain dry grass and the fibre-optic material, tightly twisted. She stated that such objects demonstrate the changing nature of warfare.
Several Ukrainian servicemen in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions confirmed finding these nests and shared pictures and videos online. Auke-Florian Hiemstra, a biologist in Leiden, Netherlands, who specializes in artificial nest materials, noted that Ukraine has rich avian biodiversity and many species could be responsible.
Hiemstra plans to conduct DNA analysis on the nests to determine the specific bird species. She commented that while the cables could potentially entangle birds, they might also provide a strong material for nest construction. Documenting these nests also serves to record the war's impact on nature in Ukraine.