鸟儿为何容易撞上建筑物

Why do birds crash into buildings？

刘立军 供稿

TRANSCRIPT

This is Scientific American's 60-second Science, I'm Jason Goldman.

About a billion birds die from flying into buildings each year in North America. Suspicions have been that birds may perceive the open areas behind glass as safe passageways. Or they may mistake the reflected foliage for the real thing.

Researchers would like to reduce collisions, which requires a solid understanding about what makes a bird more or less likely to die by smacking into a building in the first place.

"There was, and still is, relatively little known at a broad scale. Most studies are at one small study site."

Jared Elmore, a graduate student in natural resource ecology and management at Oklahoma State University. He and his colleagues used a previously created data set of building collisions for birds at 40 sites throughout Mexico, Canada and the U.S.

The first finding was obvious: bigger buildings with more glass kill more birds. But the details were more noteworthy.

"We found that life history predicted collisions. Migrants, insectivores and woodland-inhabiting species collided more than their counterparts."

Most migratory species travel at night, when lights near buildings can distract or disorient them. And Elmore thinks that insect-eating birds might be attracted to buildings because their insect prey is attracted to the lights. He suspects that woodland species get fooled by the reflections of trees and shrubs in the windows. The results are in the journal Conservation Biology.

By understanding which birds are more likely to collide with buildings, researchers can perhaps determine the best way to modify buildings, or their lighting, to help prevent such accidents. And by knowing risks, along with migration timing and behavior, building managers can better anticipate when birds are at their greatest danger - and modify lighting strategies accordingly.

Elmore's next project will use radar to help predict bird migrations. "I think that would maybe go a long way in terms of providing information to people, to the public, to building managers, on when they can get the most bang for their buck in terms of lights-out policies."

Thanks for listening for Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Jason Goldman.

VOCABULARY

1. foliage n. the leaves of a tree or plant; leaves and branches together （植物的）叶；枝叶。例如：dense green foliage 茂密的绿叶

2. collision n. an accident in which two vehicles or people crash into each other 碰撞（或相撞）事故。例如：a collision between two trains 两列火车相撞事故

3. smack v. to hit against sth. with a lot of force 使劲碰（或撞）。例如：Two players accidentally smacked into each other. 两名运动员不巧撞在了一起。

4. noteworthy adj. deserving to be noticed or to receive attention because it is unusual, important or interesting 值得注意的；显著的；重要的

5. insectivore n. any animal that eats insects 食虫动物

6. prey n. an animal, a bird, etc. that is hunted, killed and eaten by another 猎物。例如：The lion will often stalk its prey for hours. 狮子经常悄然跟踪猎物达几个小时。

7. shrub n. a large plant that is smaller than a tree and that has several stems of wood coming from the ground 灌木

8. conservation n. the protection of the natural environment （对自然环境的）保护。例如：to be interested in wildlife conservation 对野生动物保护感兴趣

QUESTIONS

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. About billions of birds die from flying into buildings each year in North America.

2. Suspicions have been that birds may perceive the open areas behind glass as safe passageways.

3. Jared Elmore is a graduate student in natural resource ecology and management at Oklahoma State University.

4. The first finding was bigger buildings with more glass kill less birds.

5. Migrants, insectivores and woodland-inhabiting species collided more than their counterparts.

6. Elmore thinks that insect-eating birds might be attracted to buildings because they are attracted to the lights.

7. Elmore finds that woodland species get fooled by the reflections of trees and shrubs in the windows.

8. Elmore's current project is using radar to help predict bird migrations.

KEY

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

(F) 1. About billions of birds die from flying into buildings each year in North America. （正确表达）About a billion birds die from flying into buildings each year in North America.

(T) 2. Suspicions have been that birds may perceive the open areas behind glass as safe passageways.

(T) 3. Jared Elmore is a graduate student in natural resource ecology and management at Oklahoma State University.

(F) 4. The first finding was bigger buildings with more glass kill less birds. （正确表达） The first finding was bigger buildings with more glass kill more birds.

(T) 5. Migrants, insectivores and woodland-inhabiting species collided more than their counterparts.

(F) 6. Elmore thinks that insect-eating birds might be attracted to buildings because they are attracted to the lights. （正确表达）Elmore thinks that insect-eating birds might be attracted to buildings because their insect prey is attracted to the lights.

(F) 7. Elmore finds that woodland species get fooled by the reflections of trees and shrubs in the windows. （正确表达）Elmore suspects that woodland species get fooled by the reflections of trees and shrubs in the windows.

(F) 8. Elmore's current project is using radar to help predict bird migrations. （正确表达） Elmore's next project will use radar to help predict bird migrations.

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