blackbirds

["Peter Shute" <>]

 wrote on Wednesday, 22 August 2007
5:46 PM:

> Apart from MRI machines which birds probably don't encounter
> much, railway overhead wiring springs to mind as having a
> strong artificial magnetic fields.  Don't know if birds avoid railway
> wiring.

I've seen plenty of different species perched on the railway wiring near
my place.  These include Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Magpie-Lark, Magpie,
Black-shouldered Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Spotted Turtle-dove, Crested
Pigeon, New Holland Honeyeater, Little Raven and probably more.  I've
never noticed a Blackbird on them, however.

The Black-shouldered Kites are happy to remain sitting on the support
wire only a metre above the live wire while trains pass underneath.

Peter Shute