Ukrainian boy tracks rare black stork from Chernobyl to Africa
Noah Beshto travelled in a motorhome to document the threats facing migrating birds, including poaching and electrocution.
Ten-year-old Ukrainian wildlife documentarian Noah Beshto travelled in a motorhome to track a GPS-tagged black stork from northern Ukraine towards Africa, according to a Times of India report. Beshto accompanied Georgian ornithologist Nika Paposhvili on the expedition to observe the dangers the species faces during migration.
Beshto documented the journey for his YouTube channel, Noah’s Diary. He told Discover Wildlife that the trip highlighted threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and electrocution near power lines.
In Bulgaria, Beshto and Paposhvili found several dead storks near electrical lines. Beshto said the birds had been feeding at a local landfill before colliding with or landing on the lines.
The Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds has previously documented bird casualties from electrical infrastructure. In September 2021, the organisation reported that 35 birds were found dead near a power line in northeastern Bulgaria, followed by 27 storks.
Beshto said the expedition helped connect an environmental activist with a Bulgarian ornithologist. The two groups are now planning discussions regarding possible joint projects to reduce bird deaths.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature's 2025 assessment lists the black stork as Least Concern globally. Beshto, who began his project at age seven, said he wants his films to encourage children to care about wildlife conservation.