Bird migration, a perilous journey - Alyssa Klavans

翻译人员: Jin Wu 校对人员: Jenny Yang

Each spring, nature lovers eagerly greet the signs

春天来临，热爱大自然的人们欢欣鼓舞

that winter is finally coming to an end.

种种迹象表明冬天终于要结束了

As the days grow warmer,

随着每一天越来越暖和

the flowers and trees start to bloom,

花儿绽放，树木发芽

and the world comes alive

世界变得生机勃勃

with the melodious call of birds

伴随着鸟儿

in search of a new mate.

求偶的悦耳歌声

But where have these enchanting sounds

然而，这些动人的歌声

been hiding all winter?

在冬天时都藏哪儿去了呢？

For almost 200 species of song birds,

有将近200种的鸣禽

their winters have been spent

它们的冬天在中南美州的热带气候下度过

down in the tropical climates

of Central and South America.

While this may sound ideal,

这大概听起来很理想

it involves one of the most perilous journeys

但却需要经过极其艰险的旅程

known in the entire animal kingdom.

这在整个动物王国里人所皆知

This journey is called migration,

这段旅程被称为迁徙

and for song birds,

并且对于所有鸣禽而言

this can involve travelling somewhere

这段行程的距离

between a few hundred to almost 7,000 miles

从几百英里到将近7000英里

in a period of several weeks

历时几周到

to four months.

四个月

Birds spend weeks preparing

鸟儿会花数周时间做好准备

for the intense journey

以迎接这次艰难的旅行

by gorging on large quantities of food,

它们会吞下大量的食物

sometimes doubling their weight

在开始旅行之前

prior to departure.

有时甚至会增重一倍

While flying, birds can lose

鸟儿们在飞行时

almost one percent of their body weight an hour,

平均每小时会减掉百分之一的体重

so packing on the pounds is crucial to their survival.

所以在旅行前增肥是维持生命必须的条件

However, more than the physical stress,

然而，除了身体上的压力外

migrating birds are now facing

现在迁移的鸟儿还需要面对

a new source of hardship:

一个新的挑战：

landscape change.

景观的变化

Just imagine you're the one

设想一下

getting ready to take a trip.

如果你需要准备旅行

You've packed the car

你在车上放置好了行李

with everything you think you need,

以及所有你认为需要的东西

fueled up the tank,

给油箱加满油

eaten a huge breakfast,

吃了一顿丰盛的早餐

and hit the road.

然后开始上路

You've taken this journey before.

这段旅程你曾经走过

You know all your favorite rest stops

你清楚自己喜欢在哪些落脚点休息

and little back-alley diners to grab a bite.

知道在街头巷尾的小餐厅可以找到吃的

Everything is planned out.

旅行中的每一步都规划好了

But just as your fuel gauge starts

但正当你的油表盘

dipping into the red zone,

开始警告快没油了时

you pass by what should have been a gas station,

你驶过了一个加油站，你本该在此加油

except it's closed.

——可惜它正巧关了

"Not a problem," you think,

“没什么大不了的，”你这么对自己说，

"The next one can't be too far away."

“下一个加油站不会离得太远的。”

But then that next station never appears.

但那下一个加油站却似再也不会出现

Unfortunately, as you continue on your route,

很不幸，当你继续你的旅行路线时

the reality of the situation starts to set in.

严峻的现实开始摆在了面前

More and more stations are closed

越来越多的加油站关了

or just erased from your map.

或者从你的地图中抹去

All of a sudden, your routine trip

突然，你的这次常规旅行

has become a desperate search

变成了一次绝望的搜寻

just to find somewhere safe to rest

只是为了找到一个安全的地方

and refuel for the night.

好好休息

This scenario has become the reality

这一设想的脚本

for the majority of migrating song birds

其实是多数迁移的鸟儿们的现实

as human land development continues unchecked.

由于人类在陆地上的建设毫无止境

Humans are altering important stop-over sites

人类改变了对鸟儿们十分重要的落脚点

that birds have been using for generations.

原本世世代代的鸟儿都在此休息

As migrators pass over the continent,

迁移者们路过陆地时

they run a gauntlet of dangers,

还得避开种种危险

including pesticide ingestion in rural farmlands,

包括可能在农田里摄入农药

habitat loss in suburban developments,

在城郊发展时栖息地变少

as well as disorientation from light pollution,

还有光污染造成的方向迷失

and even structure collision

甚至碰撞到建筑物

with tall, reflective glass buildings in cities.

比如城市中有反光玻璃的高楼

Of the estimated 20 billion individual birds

据估计 在秋季鸟类种群

that comprise the fall population,

有200亿种

only about half will return

但只有一半能够回归

to breed the following spring.

以在下一个春天繁衍后代

Almost one billion of these deaths

有近十亿的鸟

are attributed just to building collisions.

死于与高楼相撞

With such astounding yearly losses,

这是令人震惊的年度损失

humans risk more than just the loss

人类不仅仅是损失了

of the beautiful colors and songs of birds,

为世界带来美丽色彩与歌声的鸟儿

they also play an important role in the ecosystem.

它们也是生态系统中的重要角色

Birds help with insect control,

鸟儿帮助人们控制害虫的增长

pollination,

授粉

and disbursing seeds throughout the landscape.

在处处撒播种子

Without birds, the natural world

自然世界若没有了鸟儿

would be a very different place.

一切将会变得非常不同

Although birds face an on-going threat

尽管鸟儿们始终面对着

from human land development,

人类土地开发的威胁

there are actions that we can all take to help.

仍可以采取许多措施改善这一情况

Many countries and local governements

许多国家及地方政府

have already passed important laws

已经颁布了重要的法令

that restrict the use of poisonous pesticides.

限制有毒农药的使用

By using more natural, plant-based products,

通过使用更自然、基于植物的产品

we can maintain our farms and gardens

我们可以使得农田和果园

without the dangerous side effects.

不再有危险的附作用

In addition, as our global populations continue to grow

并且，随着全球人口的持续上升

and people need places to call home,

人们需要称作家的地方

green spaces can offer both bird habitat

绿地不仅可以给鸟儿提供栖息地

as well as a peaceful and natural place

还可以提供安宁自然的地方

for us to enjoy.

让我们享受生活

Small changes at home

在家里做一点小小变化

can also make a huge difference.

也可以带来很大的不同

By hanging up feeders

通过在户外挂上鸟儿喂食器

and building bird houses in outdoor areas,

以及造一个鸟舍

we can provide much-needed food and safety

我们可以提供必需的食物和安全

during long migrations.

以便鸟儿长距离迁移

Turning out lights in suburban

在城郊或

and urban environments

can also help birds

城区关上灯

也有助于鸟儿

that look for stars to navigate.

通过观察星星来导航

With our help, these sky travellers

有了我们的帮助，这些天空行者

can reach their destination safely,

可以安全到达它们的目的地

and hopefully keep returning year after year.

并有希望年年归来