Bird causes power outage for 3,000 in western Malibu

Update, 2:30 p.m.: More than 3,000 Edison customers in western Malibu have a bird to thank for an hourlong power outage on Wednesday afternoon. 

An unidentified species of bird apparently came into contact with a major-serving live wire just before 1 p.m. and caused 3,152 customers to lose their lights, according to Southern California Edison spokeswoman Nancy Rodriguez Casanova. The bird did not survive its encounter with Edison's equipment.

One bird has the capacity to do a lot of damage if it strikes a major wire such as the one it hit near Heathercliff Road and Dume Drive, Edison spokesman Mark Olson said. 

"Occasionally they get in the wrong place and contact two live wires or one live wire and one piece of equipment," Olson said. "This one contacted the live wire and something else on the pole that created a path for power to travel." 

Continued:  http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_9d7758c6-6023-11e2-9fef-001a4bcf887a.html