# birds on a wire
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-on-a-wire/61225
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 8, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-on-a-wire/61225 "2001-04-08T03:23:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@upperdeckfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/upperdeckfan)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-on-a-wire/61225/1 "2001-04-08T03:23:13Z")
I once heard a theory that birds gather and sit on electical wires because they like the “tingly” feeling on their feet. Any truth to this?
---
### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2001, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-on-a-wire/61225/2 "2001-04-08T03:47:01Z")
No. They do that for prime pooping on cars passing below.
---
### Author:  [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2001, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-on-a-wire/61225/3 "2001-04-08T17:40:22Z")
It’s just a guess, but I think the wires are too strongly insulated for them to feel much (but I really don’t know). On the other hand, if the bird is big enough, spreads its wings and grounds itself by touch another wire or pole, then it can get fried. Any electrical engineers out there?
I suspect they’re there for much the same reason as you’re a fan of the upper decks: for the view.
---
### Author:  [@Oblio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblio)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2001, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-on-a-wire/61225/4 "2001-04-08T18:01:28Z")
As long as the birds are not grounded, they are OK. At higher voltages, inductive effects become a concern. For this reason, high voltage (transmission line) linemen wear a mesh suit to reduce the induced currents within their bodies. The entire platform (isolated from the ground of course) is electrically attached (accomanied by a BIG spark) to the line . After that, the platform and the entire crew is at the same potential as the line. I have seen them do this (on TV) with both cranes and helicopters. Pretty awesome to watch.