Electricity is a dangerous thing that can cause shock, burns and damage to internal organs when passing through the body. Not only high voltage is dangerous, but also low voltage, because it can pass through vital organs like the heart. No one in their right mind would stick their fingers into a socket, much less climb poles with high-voltage wires. But you've probably noticed that hundreds and even thousands of birds sit on these wires. Considering that the wires on power lines are not insulated, the birds should be fried right away. But no – by some miracle they manage to stay alive.
Birds sit on wires and don't get electrocuted – there is a scientific explanation for this. Source: nkj.ru
In fact, there is no miracle. Many people think that birds' paws are covered with skin that protects them from electric shock. But this is also an incorrect assumption – they don't wear any rubber gloves.
Contents
- 1 What is electricity
- 2 Why birds don't get electrocuted
- 3 How many birds die on wires
- 4 Why birds sit on wires
- 5 Interesting Facts About Bird Paws
What is Electricity
To understand why birds don't burn on wires, you need to remember what electric current is. Since school, we all know that it is a flow of charged particles. In wires, the carriers of electric charge are electrolytes, and in batteries and accumulators, these are ions.
Electricity is a flow of charged particles that moves from high potential to low. Source: m24.ru
For an electric current to flow from one point to another, the voltage between them must be different. Electric charge always moves from a higher potential to a lower one. Between two distant points on an electric line, like two substations, the voltage can be millions of volts. But if a person or animal simultaneously touches two points on a short piece of wire, their potentials will be the same and nothing bad will happen.
IMPORTANT: NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EXPERIMENT WITH ELECTRICITY. ONE WRONG MOVE OR SMALL ERROR CAN LEAD TO A HORRIBLE DEATH.
Why Birds Don't Get Electric Shocked
Birds sitting on wires are not shocked because the distance between their paws is only a few centimeters. This voltage difference at the points where their feet are located is not enough to create a powerful discharge. Of course, a small current passes through the body of the birds, but it is extinguished by their body and the feathered creatures do not even notice it.
Birds are not electrocuted because their legs are located close to each other. Source: kartinki.pics
Birds can only be electrocuted when they accidentally touch a point with a different potential. For example, large birds like eagles and storks touch other wires or power poles when they spread their large wings out to the sides. When this happens, the electric current instantly fries them and they die.
Birds with a large wingspan are most likely to die on high-voltage wires. Source: wallbox.ru
Read also:At what maximum height can birds fly
How many birds die on wires
If you If you think that birds rarely die from electric shock, this is a big mistake. A 2014 study found that up to 11.5 million birds die from electrocution each year in the United States. Large birds, as described above, are at especially high risk.
In another study conducted in 2016, scientists examined the bodies of 417 electrocuted birds. It turned out that 80% of them are large golden eagles and bald eagles.
The wingspan of a bald eagle can reach 230 centimeters. Source: pofoto.club
It should be emphasized that this information is only from the USA. How many birds die from electric shocks in Russia and other countries is unknown. Perhaps we are talking about hundreds of millions of individuals per year.
Related article: How birds rest when they fly over the oceans for several weeks
Why birds sit on wires
If it is unsafe to sit on power lines, then why do birds do it? In fact, they have several reasons for sitting on wires.
First of all, sitting on wires, they escape from predators. Being at a great height, they can inspect the territory for dangerous animals. They also have a view of potential prey. Sitting among dense trees, they do not notice much, but power lines are excellent observation towers.
From a great height, birds can clearly see both enemies and potential prey. Source: bnkirov.ru
Power lines can also generate heat. On cold days, and especially in winter, birds can sit on them to keep warm. However, they rarely resort to this method of warming up, because they set up good shelters on the roofs of residential, well-heated houses.
Wires also greatly facilitate social interaction between birds. Sitting on them, they watch each other, and nothing interferes with their communication. This is another reason why birds sit on power lines in groups of several dozen or even hundreds of individuals.
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Interesting facts about bird paws
It turns out that there is no coating on the paws that protects them from electricity. But there are many other interesting facts about bird paws.
For example, did you know that the shape and structure of a bird's feet depend on its habitat? Ducks, geese, and other waterfowl have webbed feet that can serve as paddles. And birds of prey, like eagles and falcons, have powerful feet with sharp claws that can be used to grasp any prey.
The shape of a bird's paws directly depends on their habitat and lifestyle. Source: pofoto.club
For many birds, their paws play a major role in regulating heat in the body. For example, flamingos and penguins have a circulatory system in their legs designed to minimize heat loss. Thanks to this feature, they can survive in very cold conditions.
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Parrots are generally unique birds because they use their paws to hold the bird and use tools. In Australia, they are so cunning that they steal food from garbage cans.