Monday, December 10, 2007

Starlings

Part of a big flock of starlings, hanging out on high voltage power line supports. It amazes me how birds can line up on these kinds of wires and not get toasted.

Not too long ago, we saw an IMAX movie on helicopters. One segment showed the local electric company, PPL, performing maintenance on its electric lines. A person scooted out of a helicopter (already something I wouldn't do!) and crawled directly on to the wire. As long as the person and the helicopter touched no other objects, the whole technique worked just like a bird sitting on the line - no getting electrified!

It probably goes without saying that you could not pay me enough to take on that job :)

10 comments:

Mark said...

I get a great display each evening when I'm at work form 1000's of starlings doing their aerial dance before roosting, it's worth going to work just to see it.

Chers Mark

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

they find the most unlikely of the perches, dont they!!!

Wayfarer said...

AMEN! Dont need no Ricks roasting on an open fire this time of yar! LOL...I saw the same movie and the guys says he is scared of heights and women..;-)

Anonymous said...

Very nice picture and a reminder that I saw a similar show last night. A helicopter lowered a guy on a cable and he hooked onto the high volage line and then ended up sitting in a sling bucket while working and it was stunning to see. Maybe it was the same show.

I did see a squirrel once, about thirty years ago, must have bitten or gnawed through something next to a telephone pole and I heard a zzzzaaapppp snap and he smoked and fell to the ground. Only saw that happen once in my life so I guess he bit a hot wire and somehow touched the telephone pole which grounded him. Not sure but he went up in smoke.

lv2scpbk said...

Nice shot. I always see birds like this, but never stop to take a photo.

~Brenda said...

Interesting picture; I’m with you there’s no way I would want to do maintenance on power lines.

photowannabe said...

That goes for me too. I'm grateful for those who do but no thanks.

imac said...

Nice angle shot.


My walk continues

Lilli & Nevada said...

Well i have to agree with you there is no way i would want to try that. Great photos of the starlings.
First time here so will look around and see what else you have.

Coy Hill said...

Nice geometric patterns.

It is interesting that birds can sit on the wires safely but as Abe said squirrels do make mistakes. About once a years a young squirrel will get fried in the substation where I work and shut the entire plant down for hours.