SoCal Edison Rescues Bird Trapped in Power Line

By Jeff

Yesterday morning (Sunday May 9) I heard a strange flapping sound coming from the utility pole in our backyard. I looked closer and saw a pigeon stuck by its foot from a piece of string. It was flapping around, hanging upside down and struggling greatly.

I figured it was the end of the road for the bird, but I called SCE to make a report just to say I tried. Two hours later a SCE lineman showed up!!

I showed him the bird and he got a really long telescoping pole that could reach the bird. He very carefully pushed and pulled for about 10 minutes and finally freed the bird, who took off like a cannon and never even said “Thank You”!

The picture below is post rescue – that’s pretty high.  The bird was at the very top.  The rescue pole had to extend over 50′ and he worked it totally by hand.  The tip looked like a Swiss Army knife.  It had a little saw, a hook, and a pointed tip.  They probably use these poles to cut down tennis shoes and those nasty metallic balloons.

A lot of people complain about our utility companies, SCE in particular.  I want to put out a Very Big Thank You to SCE for responding and letting the little “winged rat” fly off to poop on more windshields!