Bird migration, a perilous journey - Alyssa Klavans

鳥類遷徒，一段冒險旅程 - Alyssa Klavans

譯者: Marssi Draw 審譯者: Shelly Wang

Each spring, nature lovers eagerly greet the signs

每年春天，愛好大自然的人們渴望見到

that winter is finally coming to an end.

冬天終於結束的徵兆

As the days grow warmer,

隨著天氣逐漸暖和

the flowers and trees start to bloom,

花朵和樹木開始萌芽

and the world comes alive

世界開始生氣勃勃

with the melodious call of birds

悅耳動人的小鳥開始鳴唱

in search of a new mate.

尋找著新伴侶

But where have these enchanting sounds

但是這些動人的歌聲

been hiding all winter?

在冬天時躲到哪裡去了？

For almost 200 species of song birds,

近 200 種鳴鳥

their winters have been spent

在冬天時飛往

down in the tropical climates

位於熱帶氣候區

of Central and South America.

的中南美洲

While this may sound ideal,

這聽起來可能不切實際

it involves one of the most perilous journeys

因為這在整個動物王國中

known in the entire animal kingdom.

是一段非常危險的旅程

This journey is called migration,

這趟旅程稱為遷徒

and for song birds,

而對鳴鳥來說

this can involve travelling somewhere

這可能意謂著要飛行

between a few hundred to almost 7,000 miles

幾百哩到近七千哩的距離

in a period of several weeks

長達數週

to four months.

到四個月之久

Birds spend weeks preparing

鳥兒花費數週時間

for the intense journey

吞下極大量的食物

by gorging on large quantities of food,

為準備這趟艱辛的旅程

sometimes doubling their weight

有時在出發前

prior to departure.

要讓體重加倍

While flying, birds can lose

在飛行時，鳥類幾乎每小時

almost one percent of their body weight an hour,

可以消耗 1% 的體重

so packing on the pounds is crucial to their survival.

因此增重對牠們是否能存活十分關鍵

However, more than the physical stress,

然而，比身體壓力更困難的是

migrating birds are now facing

鳥類遷徒正面臨著

a new source of hardship:

一種新的困境：

landscape change.

景觀變化

Just imagine you're the one

想像一下

getting ready to take a trip.

你是準備去旅行的人

You've packed the car

你把所有可能

with everything you think you need,

需要的東西放上車

fueled up the tank,

加了油

eaten a huge breakfast,

吃了超大份早餐

and hit the road.

然後上路去

You've taken this journey before.

你以前走過這趟路

You know all your favorite rest stops

你知道你最愛的歇腳處

and little back-alley diners to grab a bite.

還有可以吃上一頓的獨家晚餐

Everything is planned out.

所有的事都計畫好了

But just as your fuel gauge starts

但是當你的油表

dipping into the red zone,

開始掉到紅線區

you pass by what should have been a gas station,

你經過了印象中該有的那間加油站

except it's closed.

可是它早就關了

"Not a problem," you think,

你想：「沒問題。」

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

「下一間不會太遠。」

But then that next station never appears.

但是下一間加油站永遠都沒出現

Unfortunately, as you continue on your route,

不幸的是，當你繼續走

the reality of the situation starts to set in.

現實的情況上演

More and more stations are closed

越來越多的加油站關門

or just erased from your map.

或是消失在你的地圖上

All of a sudden, your routine trip

突然之間

has become a desperate search

你的旅程變成緊急搜尋

just to find somewhere safe to rest

只為了找到一個安全的地方

and refuel for the night.

休息、加油和過夜

This scenario has become the reality

這個場景成為了

for the majority of migrating song birds

大多數鳴鳥的現實情節

as human land development continues unchecked.

當人類無止境地開發土地之際

Humans are altering important stop-over sites

人類改變了鳥類使用了

that birds have been using for generations.

好幾個世代的重要的中繼站

As migrators pass over the continent,

當候鳥飛越大陸

they run a gauntlet of dangers,

牠們冒著生命危險

including pesticide ingestion in rural farmlands,

包含了吸入鄉間農園裡的農藥

habitat loss in suburban developments,

郊區開發使得棲息地喪失

as well as disorientation from light pollution,

還有在光害中迷失方向

and even structure collision

甚至是撞上城市中

with tall, reflective glass buildings in cities.

又高又閃亮的玻璃高樓

Of the estimated 20 billion individual birds

秋天時鳥類總數

that comprise the fall population,

大約有 200 億隻左右

only about half will return

但是只有一半的鳥會回來

to breed the following spring.

迎接下一個春天

Almost one billion of these deaths

幾乎有 10 億隻鳥類

are attributed just to building collisions.

因為撞上大樓而死亡

With such astounding yearly losses,

隨著每年如此驚人的損失

humans risk more than just the loss

人類冒的險

of the beautiful colors and songs of birds,

不只是失去了鳥類美麗的色彩和歌聲

they also play an important role in the ecosystem.

牠們在生態中也佔了極重要的地位

Birds help with insect control,

鳥類幫助控制昆蟲

pollination,

植物授粉

and disbursing seeds throughout the landscape.

還有在各地播下種子

Without birds, the natural world

沒有了鳥類，大自然

would be a very different place.

會變得非常不一樣

Although birds face an on-going threat

雖然鳥類持續面臨

from human land development,

人類土地開發的威脅

there are actions that we can all take to help.

還有我們幫得上忙的行動

Many countries and local governements

許多國家和地方政府

have already passed important laws

已經通過重要的法令

that restrict the use of poisonous pesticides.

限制有毒的農藥

By using more natural, plant-based products,

藉由使用自然、植物製品

we can maintain our farms and gardens

我們可以維護農場和花園

without the dangerous side effects.

又不會有危險的副作用

In addition, as our global populations continue to grow

此外，當全球人數持續增加

and people need places to call home,

人們都需要一個稱為家的地方

green spaces can offer both bird habitat

綠地能夠提供鳥類棲息

as well as a peaceful and natural place

同樣也能成為一個安寧的自然環境

for us to enjoy.

讓我們享受其間

Small changes at home

在家裡做小小的改變

can also make a huge difference.

也能帶來大大的不同

By hanging up feeders

你可以掛上餵食箱

and building bird houses in outdoor areas,

為鳥類在戶外蓋一個家

we can provide much-needed food and safety

我們能夠在長期的遷徒途中

during long migrations.

提供足夠的食物和安全

Turning out lights in suburban

關上郊區

and urban environments

can also help birds

和城市的路燈

也能幫助鳥類

that look for stars to navigate.

找到指引方向的星星

With our help, these sky travellers

藉由我們的幫助，在天空的旅行家

can reach their destination safely,

能夠安全地抵達目的地

and hopefully keep returning year after year.

但願牠們每一年都能回來