How villagers stopped fearing cell towers in Kyrgyzstan — thanks to storks

Grandmother Saltanat, a resident of Kerkidan village in the Osh region, was a wise but very anxious woman. Two years ago, when a tall new cell tower was installed near her house, her peace of mind vanished.

Rumors spread fast: “radiation,” “disease,” “danger”. The fear Saltanat and many of her neighbors experienced has a scientific name — radiophobia. It’s more than just anxiety: it’s a form of hypochondria where people constantly fear for their health because of electromagnetic fields (EMF), even when all medical tests are normal.

Her grandson Adil, a telecom engineer, tried to reassure her, explaining that radio waves and radiation are two completely different things. “Radiation is harmful — it’s ionizing. Our radio waves are not. It’s straight out of a ninth-grade physics textbook, grandma!” he told her.

A surprising argument from nature

But Saltanat apa didn’t believe him. She remained worried — until one spring day, something happened that changed her attitude completely.

In April last year, a bit earlier than usual, a pair of storks landed on top of the new tower. Not only did they perch there — they began building a massive nest. The birds stayed for two to three months, laid eggs, raised their chicks, and then left their “apartment” for the season. This spring, the residents of Kerkidan saw the storks return to their familiar nesting spot.

This summer, even popular blogger Nursultan Attokurov came to film the remarkable scene.

Watch the amazing video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMsc8v2IHmh/?igsh=bmI4dzR6amp2d2Nt

Locals say the storks compete for the best nesting places, and for the second year in a row this cell tower has become their home. They spend the entire nesting season there — incubating eggs, feeding, and raising their young — year after year.

“Now we ask the telecom engineers not to disturb the birds and leave them alone!” — says Saltanat apa.

According to O! technical specialists, they make every effort to coexist with wildlife, taking into account the tower’s structural load limits (the weight and size of equipment installed on top).

For villagers, the storks have become living proof that cell towers can peacefully coexist with nature.

And this case is not unique. Another stork family was found nesting on a cell tower in the village of Khajir-Abad in the Jalal-Abad region.

Numbers speak louder than rumors

Microwave vs. Tower: The average household microwave emits 120–180 µW/cm², which is dozens of times higher than the signal from a base station.

The Sun: Sunbathing exposes a person to far more intense radiation than standing near a cell tower.

Moreover, no tower goes live without a multi-stage safety inspection: each site undergoes testing by the Department of Disease Prevention and independent laboratories.

The real danger of fear

Saltanat apa eventually calmed down, but Adil told her about another, very real threat — the actions of people driven by radiophobia.

Unfortunately, in Kyrgyzstan there have been cases where people, gripped by fear, attack installation crews and damage expensive equipment. Such acts of vandalism can leave entire areas without communication and emergency services during critical situations.

Today, mobile connectivity isn’t just about fast internet — it’s also about calling an ambulance, reaching loved ones, and accessing vital information.

A simple lesson: Knowledge of technology and trust in science are the key to overcoming radiophobia.

And, of course, a pair of wise storks — who have already made their choice.