环球英语 — 346：Bird Problems

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight¹ program. I’m Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Since the beginning of time, one animal has amazed² humans. This animal sings beautiful songs. It lives on every continent of the planet³. It comes in many different sizes and colors. Its form suggested new technologies to human inventors - like airplanes. What animal is it? It is the bird. But life is not always easy for these winged creatures. And people are often to blame. Today’s Spotlight is on birds and the problems they face. We will also look at how people are protecting birds.
Voice 2
Birds are amazing animals, but bird populations are very sensitive. Many things can affect them. And for the past fifty [50] years, populations of birds in many areas have been growing smaller. Some scientists have said that up to twelve percent of bird species⁴ are in danger of dying⁵ off. This means that many kinds of birds may soon disappear.
Voice 1
But what is causing bird populations to drop? Scientists say that there are many reasons why this is happening. But the main reason is loss of habitat. The birds are losing their homes.
Voice 2
Birds live in many different kinds of places - in forests, and fields, villages and cities. But when these areas change, the birds have to change too. People change these habitats in many ways - by cutting down forests, by making new farm land, by building cities and roads in new places. These are not always bad activities. But they do change the areas for birds.
Voice 1
Some birds react well. For example, some birds live very well in cities. But others do not. They cannot find new places to make their homes, nests. So they may stop breeding⁶ and having babies. They may not be able to find their usual kinds of food. And often they also lose their usual kinds of protection. They can no longer hide in their usual places.
Voice 2
As cities expand, wild lands grow smaller. And there are fewer places for some kinds of birds to live.
Voice 1
Another problem facing birds is change in temperature. Many birds migrate⁷. As the seasons change, they travel from cold areas to warmer areas. But global warming is changing this. As winters become warmer, birds migrate at different times, and to different places. Birds depend on particular foods when they arrive at a new place. If the birds arrive too early, that food may not be there.
Voice 2
This is a big problem for birds. Many birds eat only very particular foods. That is one reason birds have many different shapes and sizes. Some birds have long thin beaks⁸ to help them drink liquid from flowers. Other birds have strong beaks for breaking open seeds and nuts. Many birds only eat a few particular things. If these things, such as plants or insects, disappear, then so do the birds.
Voice 1
But birds are not only affected⁹ by large problems like global warming and changing habitats. Smaller things can also affect birds.
Voice 2
Scientists have found that light from cities can affect birds. Large cities create a lot of heat and a lot of light. At night, skies are bright around many cities. And this light affects migrating¹⁰ birds.
Voice 1
But the light is not the only problem. The large city buildings are dangers to birds. When birds migrate, they travel along particular paths. These paths are often based on light from the moon and stars. But when birds come close to large cities, these paths must change. The bright lights of the tall city buildings pull the birds off their paths.
Voice 2
Sometimes the birds crash into the buildings at night. But even if they do not hit the buildings, they may become lost. They may fly around the buildings until they become very tired. In the morning they try to escape the city. But the buildings are still dangerous. Birds cannot see glass well - often, they will fly right into glass windows
Voice 1
Joanna Eckles works¹¹ for a group called Project Bird Safe in Minneapolis Minnesota. She talked about her work with a local radio station:
Voice 3
“We are working with the building owners, managers, and workers to get the lights turned off. This will let the birds migrating through to pass over without getting trapped in the city.”
Voice 2
More cities around the world are turning the lights off during migration¹² season. This will give birds a better chance at staying on the right path.
Voice 1
But turning lights off is not the only way people are helping¹³ birds. In Kazakhstan, scientists are recovering land that was damaged by cows. This area is now a good place for birds to live. This is part of a larger plan by international groups to protect bird areas. For example, all through Asia, people are working with government officials to protect the homes of water birds.
Voice 2
Around the world, groups are also protecting birds in Important Bird Areas, or IBA’s. An IBA is a special area of land. Birds depend on these areas for raising their babies. And they depend on these areas for food. And migrating birds depend on these areas as a safe place to stop along their travels.
Voice 1
Laws do not force land owners to protect the IBA land. Most land owners choose to protect the IBA’s because they know that these areas are special and important. But what makes these areas important?
Voice 2
To be an IBA, an area must meet particular conditions. For example, an IBA may provide a habitat to an endangered kind of bird. That is, an IBA may be the home for birds that are in danger of disappearing completely. Or, an IBA may be the home for migrating birds, or shorebirds on the edge of an ocean. And finally, an IBA may be the home for birds who can only live in a very particular area.
Voice 1
Creating special areas for birds will help the bird populations to recover. Turning off lights at night can help them survive. People threaten the future of birds, but we can also work to help them. We can help the birds to continue singing their songs.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 amazed   

adj.吃惊的，惊奇的v.使大为吃惊，使惊奇( amaze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Just the size of the place amazed her. 仅仅地方之大就使她十分惊奇。
• I was amazed at her knowledge of French literature. 她的法国文学知识之丰富使我大为惊奇。

3 planet   

n.行星

参考例句：

• Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun. 海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Rubbish, however, is only part of the problem of polluting our planet. 然而, 垃圾只是我们这个星球的污染问题的一个方面。

4 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。

5 dying   

adj.垂死的，临终的

参考例句：

• He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
• She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子，那里有一个垂死的人。

6 breeding   

n.繁殖

参考例句：

• the breeding of horses 马的饲养
• This area of the city has become a breeding ground for violent crime. 这个市区已成为暴力犯罪的滋生地。

7 migrate   

vi.（候鸟等）迁徙，移居（国外），迁移

参考例句：

• Many birds migrate south for the winter.冬天时，许多鸟类迁徙南方。
• The rich people often migrate in winter to Florida.有钱的人常在冬季搬迁到佛罗里达州去。

8 beaks   

n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者

参考例句：

• Baby cockatoos will have black eyes and soft, almost flexible beaks. 雏鸟凤头鹦鹉黑色的眼睛是柔和的，嘴几乎是灵活的。 来自互联网
• Squid beaks are often found in the stomachs of sperm whales. 经常能在抹香鲸的胃里发现鱿鱼的嘴。 来自互联网

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 migrating   

v.迁移，移往( migrate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The mudflats offer a winter home to thousands of migrating swans. 泥滩成为成千上万只迁徙的天鹅越冬的场所。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many Asians are migrating to the West. 许多亚洲人移民去了西方国家。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

12 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

13 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。