Why don't birds get shocked on electric or telephone lines all the time?

My 7 year old daughter asked me this the other day, and I felt like I let her down not knowing the answer. You know, the all-knowing, ever-wise, parent!! Please help.

because they aren't touching the ground or something that touches the ground. Electricity won't leave the wire unless the bird is touching one of the other wires or something else that touches the ground. Electricity is always looking for a way to reach the ground. if you wanted you could climb a pole and hang from a telephone wire and not get shocked but you would have to make sure you jumped at it so you weren't touching the pole when you connected with the wire.... then again how would you get down except falling... on second thought don't do that!!!

Because they are only touching one line, If they were to touch two line at once they would get shocked.

the wires don't touch each other. If the wind blows hard and a large bird touches the other wire he is a goner.

Their wing span is not wide enough to reach two lines. I believe there was an issue with eagles been killed by power lines a few years ago.

birds or squirrels only get electocuted if they create a circuit by touching two wires at the same time. One wire would be current-carrying, and the other might be a 'ground' wire, or even a transformer, and cause the electricity to make a circuit through the animal on it's way to the ground.

'cos they touch the same line at once. So electrons do not move along the bird. but if they could touch two different lines or earth and a line, you may see their dust.

They would have to staddle 2 wires to make a complete circuit. They are too small to have one foot/claw on one wire and another foot on the other wire.

Also... the wire is insulated. Have your kid hold an extension cord or toaster cord (while the toaster is on, or the lamp is on). She doesn't get shocked because of the plastic.

.

They are only touching rubber outside.

You only get a shock if you are grounded - like standing on the ground. Then the electricity runs through you. If you are a bird then you are not grounded so no current passes through.

I work for a power company, and believe me it happens. Mostly squirrels or large birds hopping from one line to another but touching both at the same time...a lot of power outages are caused by this!!

Gotta touch both at the same time.

'cos it's touching one line.
hmm...it mysteriously smells like chicken....

They're not grounded. Plus, the wires are rubber-coated....

Sometimes the birds do get zapped. In fact, one started a fire last season near my neighborhood. The bird somehow touched both lines simultaneously, the bird got zapped, fell to the ground, and the dry grasses below ignited....plus he caused the power to be out for quite some time

This doesn't happen more often because the two lines seldom touch.

they are only on one line
i have seen a eagle fried because it spreads its wings and toughed two lines ,
instant barbequed eagle was the result.

they only touch one wire and the arnt grounded