How do birds perch on power lines safely?
Contrary to popular belief, birds cannot always sit on power lines and not get electrocuted. They can only sit on the power line safely if they do not touch anything else while also being on the power line. Having contact with a power line and another surface will result in their electrocution.MisconceptionsA bird can sit on a power line and not be electrocuted only if the bird perches on one solitary power line. If any part of the bird’s feet, wings or body touch the pole, a tree, the ground or second power line, the bird will most likely be electrocuted.Electrical FlowElectricity moves from an area of high voltage to an area of low voltage. For this reason, electricity generally tries to reach the ground if it has a path to do so. When a bird has one part of its body on a power line and another part of its body on an object that is in direct contact with the ground, the electricity will flow through the bird in an attempt to reach the ground. This will result in electrocution.Resting
