VOA慢速英语2019--Study Examines How Americans View Birds

 

A new study released by the Proceedings¹ of the National Academy of Science aims to define “a range of relationships between people and birds” across the United States.

Those are the words of Justin Schuetz, one of the study’s writers. Schuetz is a biologist and researcher in Bath, Maine. He worked on the study with Alison Johnston, with Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Schuetz and Johnston studied Google searches performed between 2008 and 2017 to learn what Americans think about 621 bird species. The researchers knew where each search came from and the natural territory of each species. They also knew how often a bird species is seen in certain places.

One important question was whether the Google information revealed more interest in each species than one would expect in different places. Another question was how much the interest in each species was limited to the bird’s natural territory or outside of it.

Birds in the “celebrity²” category are those that were used in more Google searches than one would expect, given how often they are seen in an area. Birds in this category included whooping³ cranes, common ravens⁴ and peregrine falcons⁵. Schuetz explained that the birds “have a reputation beyond where they live.”

Next came the “friends or enemies” category. This included species that get more Google searches than expected, such as the ruffed grouse⁶ and purple martin. But the researchers could not tell whether the searchers’ opinions of these birds were positive or negative.

Then came birds considered “neighbors.” The few Google searches of these birds were limited to where they live, like the wrentit and the Abert’s towhee.

Finally, there were the “strangers,” birds that received little to no Google interest anywhere, including the Hammond’s flycatcher and the Brewer’s sparrow.

The researchers found that bigger birds and those that have colorful feathers and often stop at people’s birdfeeders were generally more popular. Birds that served as mascots⁸ for professional sports teams reached celebrity standing⁹.

Some of the results surprised the researchers. Schuetz said that Americans seem to be really interested in owls¹⁰ for reasons the research could not explain.

Jeffrey Gordon is president of the American Birding Association. He called the study “a fascinating framework for trying to understand how people are relating to birds.”

David Ringer is the chief network officer for the National Audubon Society, a non-profit environmental organization. In an email to the AP, he wrote, “It’s great to see how much we know and love some species. “I hope that many bird ‘strangers’ will become ‘friends,’ and ‘neighbors’ will turn into ‘celebrities.’”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

fascinating – adj. very interesting or appealing

framework – n. a set of ideas or facts that provide support for something

mascot⁷ – n. a person, animal, or object used as a symbol to represent a group such as a sports team and to bring good luck

negative – adj. expressing dislike or disapproval¹¹

positive – adj. showing or expressing support, approval, or agreement

reputation – n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something

1 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

2 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

3 whooping   

发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的

参考例句：

• Whooping cough is very prevalent just now. 百日咳正在广泛流行。
• Have you had your child vaccinated against whooping cough? 你给你的孩子打过百日咳疫苗了吗？

4 ravens   

n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wheresoever the carcase is,there will the ravens be gathered together. 哪里有死尸，哪里就有乌鸦麇集。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A couple of ravens croaked above our boat. 两只乌鸦在我们小船的上空嘎嘎叫着。 来自辞典例句

5 falcons   

n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Peregrine falcons usually pluck the feathers and strip the flesh off their bird prey. 游隼捕到鸟类猎物时，通常是先拔掉它们的羽毛，再把肉撕下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Though he doubted the wisdom of using falcons, Dr. de la Fuente undertook the project. 虽然德·拉·富恩特博士怀疑使用游隼是否明智，但他还是执行了这项计划。 来自辞典例句

6 grouse   

n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦

参考例句：

• They're shooting grouse up on the moors.他们在荒野射猎松鸡。
• If you don't agree with me,please forget my grouse.如果你的看法不同，请不必介意我的牢骚之言。

7 mascot   

n.福神，吉祥的东西

参考例句：

• The football team's mascot is a goat.足球队的吉祥物是山羊。
• We had a panda as our mascot.我们把熊猫作为吉详物。

8 mascots   

n.吉祥物( mascot的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the mascots was the platypus. 吉祥物一是鸭嘴兽。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Information on all things Olympic, including logos, mascots, venues,and bid candidates. 所有事情奥林匹克，包括的标识语，吉祥物，地点，和出价候选人的信息。 来自互联网

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 owls   

n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 'Clumsy fellows,'said I; 'they must still be drunk as owls.' “这些笨蛋，”我说，“他们大概还醉得像死猪一样。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The great majority of barn owls are reared in captivity. 大多数仓鸮都是笼养的。 来自辞典例句

11 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。