VOA慢速英语2019--喂鸟时要考虑安全和健康

When Feeding Birds, Think Safety and Health

Feeding birds is a popular way to watch wildlife during the winter months. But many bird experts say the experience is often more pleasant for people than for birds. And it might even put wild birds at risk.

“Feeding birds is not necessary for their survival¹ except in extreme weather conditions,” said Stephen Kress. He is with the National Audubon Society, an organization whose aim is to protect wildlife. “Feeders can definitely² help them get through that kind of weather.”

Most birds eat insects and show little interest in bird feeders. For those birds, Kress suggests growing native plants in a natural environment.

In addition, birds who do eat seed “will be more likely to come to feeders if there is some cover nearby.” This lets them feed and then fly to protective³ areas, such as in trees.

The most common mistake people make with their bird feeders is incorrect placement. They put feeders in places where birds are frightened by foot traffic, risk being hurt by cats, or risk flying into windows.

Kress likes the idea of setting⁴ up a bird feeder at least one meter away from a window. That way, if a bird gets frightened, it won’t die when it hits the glass, he says. And, he urges owners of cats to keep them inside the home so they can’t hurt the birds.

Learn which bird species⁵ are common to your neighborhood so you can avoid feeder wars and understand the social order.

“Some birds are more aggressive at feeders,” Kress said. They eat a lot and do not leave much food for other birds.

A solution is to put the food in more than one place by using different kinds of seeds and feeders. Nyjer seeds, for example, are a favorite of goldfinches. Tube feeders with wire covers prevent large birds from entering.

Pay attention to seed quality and freshness. Unprotected seed left too long in feeders will turn moldy⁷, and mold⁶ can kill wildlife. Refresh⁸ your feeders every few days and clean them often with a liquid of 10 percent bleach⁹.

Adam Rohnke is a wildlife expert with Mississippi State University. He said people can feed birds more effectively by using black-oil sunflower seeds, as it is the favorite seed of feeder birds. The added value, he said, is that it reduces waste seed on the ground, which appeals to other small animals.

Rohnke also said that bird lovers¹⁰ can increase the number and diversity of birds by using different kinds of feeders. For example, some birds, such as doves¹¹ and towhees, live close to the ground. So they like lower feeders.

Other birds like other things. Woodpeckers, blue jays and songbirds, for example, like suet, a hard fat in meat. Orioles, bluebirds and waxwings like fruit.

Another word of advice: Do not feed wild birds anything salty, like potato chips, or food that could choke them, like plain bread.

Always try to provide a supply of clean water, but use care when looking for the right birdbath. Most birdbaths are too deep for birds, Kress said. Putting a few large stones in the water can give the birds a place to sit.

And, for hummingbirds¹² – which are very, very small – put water on large plant leaves to attract them. Hummingbirds like to bathe in leaves, Kress said.

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

feeder – n. a device¹³ for supplying food to animals

species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

moldy – adj. covered with a soft substance that grows on the surface of damp or rotting things

bleach – n. a strong chemical that is used to make something clean or white

diversity – n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas or other things

choke – v. to become unable to breathe because something gets stuck in your throat

birdbath – n. a bowl that is filled with water and usually raised above the ground in a yard or garden so birds can bathe in it

1 survival   

n.留住生命，生存，残存，幸存者

参考例句：

• The doctor told my wife I had a fifty-fifty chance of survival.医生告诉我的妻子，说我活下去的可能性只有50%。
• The old man was a survival of a past age.这位老人是上一代的遗老。

2 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

3 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

4 setting   

n.背景

参考例句：

• The play has its setting in Vienna.该剧以维也纳为背景。
• Where and when a story takes place is called the setting.故事发生的地点和时间称为故事背景。

5 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

6 mold   

n.模子，模型，铸模；vt.造型，浇涛

参考例句：

• Too often we try to mold our children into something they do not wish to be.我们常常试图把孩子塑造成他们自己不想成为的样子。
• Try to compact the sand into the mold.设法把这沙土堆积到模子里。

7 moldy   

adj.发霉的

参考例句：

• She chucked the moldy potatoes in the dustbin.她把发霉的土豆扔进垃圾箱。
• Oranges can be kept for a long time without going moldy.橙子可以存放很长时间而不腐烂。

8 refresh   

v.使...生气蓬勃，提起精神，恢复精神

参考例句：

• I looked at the map to refresh my memory of the road.我看看地图以唤起对这条路的回忆。
• I think I'll just refresh myself with a cup of tea before I go to meet the children.我想在见孩子们之前先喝杯茶来恢复一下精神。

9 bleach   

vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂

参考例句：

• These products don't bleach the hair.这些产品不会使头发变白。
• Did you bleach this tablecloth?你把这块桌布漂白了吗？

10 lovers   

爱好者( lover的名词复数 )； 情人； 情夫； 情侣

参考例句：

• They were off-screen lovers. 他们是真实生活中的情侣。
• Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet 罗密欧和朱丽叶这一对莎士比亚笔下命运多舛的恋人

11 doves   

n.菜包肉末饭（用卷心菜叶包肉末米饭，炖熟食用）；鸽( dove的名词复数 )；和平的象征

参考例句：

• The doves winged skyward. 鸽子向空中飞去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The doves were cooing in the trees. 鸽子在林中咕咕啼鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 hummingbirds   

n.蜂鸟( hummingbird的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious. 蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
• Why do hummingbirds and gorillas both have backbones? 为什么蜂鸟和大猩猩都有脊骨？

13 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。