On Sunday, January 5, 2014 12:42:59 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Sun, 05 Jan 2014 13:23:43 -0500, Poco Loco

wrote:



I see birds sitting on power lines all the time.



I think they have to be big enough to touch two of them at a time, or ground themselves, or some

damn thing. I know sitting on one wire and touching nothing else is safe.



You see them on the low voltage and even medium voltage now and then

but I never see one on a high voltage line. (using the PoCo definition

of voltage)

I think the corona of HV lines keeps them away.

The capacitive effect might knock them out if they try.

I do see a bird on the HV poles now and then tho but they are

grounded.



The critters that take a beating are the squirrels. If they are

playing around the transformers they do get between the hub and the

can now and then and hit the ground in a smoking pile of fur.

Not really that often but we've had a problem with 'protected' wild turkeys flying up into electric lines, crossing the wires and blowing out transformers. Lights out!