How can birds sit on electrical wires without getting a shock?
by 
wickedwillie
ANSWERS: 4
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In order to be shocked, one has to touch two of the wires at once.
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In order to receive a shock from an electrical source a circuit must be completed (+/-), and this happens when a positive flowing electrical wire meets something grounded. Since a bird flies up to a wire it is not grounded and therefore is not shocked. An electrical circuit can be made by connecting 2 wires with an electrical current. There are large birds with wide enough wingspans that touch or come too close to two separate electrical wires and have been electrocuted or injured badly enough to make their natural survival impossible. Large birds, such as birds of prey, often meet their demise in this fashion and some you'll see at your local zoo or wildlife rehabilitation facility.
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Have you ever noticed how they all seem to sit on one wire? That's because that wire is not being used, it is there to protect the wires with electricity running through them from lightning. However birds can stand on the lower wires and only feel a slight buzz, which is very uncomfortable to them.
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It is true that a circuit has to be completed and it happens sometimes (lots of times to squirrels too). A buddy of mine swears he was on a dove hunt and saw about 100 doves on a power line get zapped. Saved ammo and cooking time no doubt.
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