The Free Sky for Birds 2026 conference, held in Bratislava from 10–12 March, brought together leading experts, conservationists, and industry stakeholders to address one of the most pressing threats to bird populations: interactions with power lines.
A keynote session, moderated by Márton Horváth (MME/BirdLife Hungary), highlighted country-scale solutions to reduce avian electrocution, with a focus on large-scale retrofitting of power line insulation in Mongolia. This approach demonstrates how coordinated action at a national level can significantly reduce risks to raptors and other bird species.
This work reflects practical, on-the-ground conservation efforts, showcasing how targeted infrastructure modifications can significantly reduce bird mortality while supporting long-term population stability.