how do birds survive walking on live tracks?

filthiestfis | 15:29 Wed 28th Mar 2007 | How it Works

12 Answers

For Londonders especially: Ever notice how on outdoor Underground stations you often see pigeons walking on the rails? I understand that its the second rail that is live but how come we never see electrified birds on the lines?

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4getmenot

rubber feet

filthiestfis

Question Author

LOL mmm ok.

-- answer removed --

4getmenot

sorry couldnt resist :-), its a good point though, I've always wondered that about telegraph wires

4getmenot

Here you go :-)

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbirdwire. html

chakka35

To be electrocuted the bird would need to complete the circuit by having some other part of its body touching earth, possibly via the track rails.
It reminds me of the old Liverpool joke when the trams ran on lines embedded in the ground getting their power from overhead lines. A nervous old lady asked a tram driver whether she would be electrocuted if she put a foot on the rail. "No missus," he answered, " not unless you had your other foot on that wire up there."

Lonnie

I drive Underground trains, first, can't fault chakka35's answer, but as to which rail is the live one, in stations, its the furthest, outside stations, its the thick one in the middle, as it goes, left hand Running Rail, Negative, Right hand Running Rail, Positive, all depending in or our of stations, the Positive and Negative are swopped over, 630 volts through the positive.

laurence2

Can't fault the two answers directly above this posting.

Ps, Birds are not so lucky when my train hits them at 100mph

Lonnie

Just a little bit faster than mine laurence2, 'lol'

Tiny E. A

Is this especially for londoners because they are the only people in the country t have trains and pigeons?!

annie0000

My son aged 5 asked why the birds were on the electricity line - I answered that I thought their wings were a bit tired so they were having a rest - my 6 year old son then said - yes mum that's right, now they are getting some more energy through their feet and are recharging their wings! - so now we know.

filthiestfis

Question Author

thats sweet of your son to say annie! Very good and isnt it clever when kids say something like that?

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