what allows a bird to sit on electrical wires?

Answer 1

if it was to touch wire and pole at same time ZAP! but because there is no ground,,it isnt harmed

Answer 2

If you notice, when a bird stands or sits on electrical wires, it is only touching one wire, therefore electricity cannot pass through it. If the bird or anything else were touching two wires or the ground and a wire at the same time, this would make what is known as a circuit and electricity would pass through it and the bird or anything else would die. Where I live in Virginia, they have wires that are too close together at the poles for eagles and ospreys, because of this, the power company puts up stands on the poles. This prevents the large birds from getting electrocuted.

Answer 3

I am to think that the question "How can a bird sit on a high voltage wire that has electricity going through it?" Answer-the bird is okay as long as it can't physically sit or stand on two wires. It is okay for us to hold a high voltage wire in our hand as long as we are suspended in air-not touching the ground-and not touching any other wires. A circuit must be complete for electricity to flow as for the above situations the circuit is considered open meaning there is a potential only. However this is not the case for lightning-this is another question.

Answer 4

The bird is only touching one wire, and not making a connection, therefore there is nowhere for the electricity to flow. If a bird could touch two wires on the electrical pole, it would be electrocuted, because it is serving as a path for the electricity to go from one wire to the other.
A human could hold onto one wire without getting electrocuted.

Answer 5

The electrical wires transmit power. They do this by the free flow of electrons. You get into trouble when you place your body between the wire and a ground (wire OR the earth). The current tries to find the shortest path to the ground and if you are that path, you get cooked. Since the birds are standing on the wire and not providing a short path to a ground they will not be shocked.

Answer 6

electricity needs a path to the ground, and since birds are not touching anything but the wire, no problem for them. Read my source to find out a bit more.

Answer 7

They are not in contact with the wire and the ground at the same time. I have seen a couple birds that ouched the wrong part of a wire and got fried...it happens. Don't try and do it yourself !!

Answer 8

The wire has a coating on it so that the bird doesn't get electricuted. Just like how we can touch wires in our homes without getting injured or killed.

Answer 9

Hi Shawn P,
I like you Question!
YOU MUST BE A SMART AND CARING PERSON because you take the time to notice our little friends. - Yeah like most everyone said, the birds and not grounded, so they stay safe. Thank Goodness! It almost sounds like there's a joke in there somewhere...you know, the birds are "grounded"? Anyway, Thanks for such a good question. By the way...Will you pleez pick my answer as the best. U R sweet! thin-Q vry mch!

Answer 10

said birds will not conduct unless they are grounded.
were any of those birds to touch more than one wire at once, or a wire and the ground at the same time -
boom

Answer 11

the wires have a thick insulation and are coated with a product that doesnt allow water damage or stimulates animals to actively chew on them

I hope this helps

Best Of Luck Joe