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Electrocuted Birds Are Bursting into Flames and Starting Wildfires
- aidenn0 2y agoI live in the California region mentioned by TFA and don't recall hearing about any bird-caused fires. Now vehicles dragging a chain (e.g. while towing) on the road causes a lot of fires, but since they are usually right next to the freeway they are typically put out quickly.
- foxyv 2y agoYou don't really hear about most wildfires because they are put out before they cause any damage. > According to Barnes’ 2022 study, the area of California coast known as the state’s Mediterranean ecoregion has the highest density of wildfires set off by avian ignitions. In the paper, he advised authorities in the area and other fire-prone regions to look into modifying power poles to prevent these electrocutions.
- StanislavPetrov 2y agoTalk about down in a blaze of glory..
- hilbert42 2y agoI'm surprised distance margins on insulators etc. are not large enough to prevent this. Unfortunately the article is short on technical details such as the type and voltage of HV lines, insulator info etc. Very high voltage lines, ≥330kV, can arc under some conditions, high humidity, polluted atmosphere, same with dirty insulators (which are usually cleaned by rain). In these conditions I'd have thought birds approaching such lines would be sacred off by arcing. Similarly, I'd have reckoned any arcing between a bird in flight and a line would only have been large enough to scare it off rather than to harm it. Does anyone have actual details about how these birds are electrocuted?