研究指出美國鳥類數量正大幅減少

Source:
VOA | USA
Report: US bird population is declining
March 14, 2025 2:55 AM

保育團體指出，美國的鳥類數目正以驚人的速度減少。目前已有超過一百種有研究紀錄的鳥類接近「臨界點」，在過去半個世紀以來，已大幅減少了一半以上。康奈爾大學鳥類學實驗室族群研究中心主任阿曼達‧羅德瓦德（Amanda Rodewald）指出，美國境內約有三分之一的鳥種亟需保育，其中包括許多一般認為常見且為數眾多的種類，包括斑嘴潛鴨、艾倫蜂鳥、黃嘴潛鳥等十五種鳥類。生物學家彼得‧馬拉（Peter Marra）則表示，每一種鳥類的保育都是一項錯綜複雜的工程，但並非無法實現，白頭老鷹的復育便是成功案例。

The U.S. bird population is declining at an alarming rate, according to a report published Thursday by an alliance of science and conservation groups.

Habitat loss and climate change are among the key contributing factors to the bird population losses, according to the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report.

More than 100 of the species studied, have reached a "tipping point," losing more than half their populations in the last 50 years. The report revealed that the avian population in all habitats is declining, including the duck population, previously considered a triumph of conservation. "The only bright spot is water birds such as herons and egrets that show some increases," Michael Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy, told Reuters.

The decline in the duck population fell by approximately 30% from 2017, but duck population numbers still remain higher, however, than their 1970 numbers, according to an Associated Press account on the report.

"Roughly one in three bird species (229 species) in the U.S. requires urgent conservation attention, and these species represent the major habitats and systems in the U.S. and include species that we've long considered to be common and abundant," Amanda Rodewald, faculty director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Center for Avian Population Studies told Reuters.

Included among the birds with highest losses, Reuters reported, are the mottled duck, Allen's hummingbird, yellow-billed loon, red-faced cormorant, greater sage-grouse, Florida scrub jay, Baird's sparrow, saltmarsh sparrow, mountain plover, Hawaiian petrel, Bicknell's thrush, Cassia crossbill, pink-footed shearwater, tricolored blackbird and golden-cheeked warbler. Some of the birds in this "red alert" group are already protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the news agency said.

"For each species that we're in danger of losing, it's like pulling an individual thread out of the complex tapestry of life," Georgetown University biologist Peter Marra. who was not involved in the new report, told AP. While the outlook may seem dire, it is not without hope, said Marra, who noted the resurgence of the majestic bald eagle.

Language Notes

alliance: 結盟；聯盟） ⬆
habitat: 棲地 ⬆
tipping point: 臨界點 ⬆
approximately: 近似；大概 ⬆
majestic: 雄偉的；威嚴的；崇高的 ⬆

Check your comprehension!

Choose the BEST answer to each of the questions below. After you finish, highlight the parentheses to reveal the hidden answers.

1.( B ) Which of the following best represents the primary causes for the decline of the bird population in the U.S., according to the provided article?
A. Hurricanes and earthquakes
B. Habitat loss and climate change
C. Volcano eruptions and tsunamis
D. Pestilence and bird flu

2.( A ) Which species experienced population growth rather than decline?
A. Herons.
B. Mottled duck.
C. Baird's sparrow.
D. Bicknell's thrush

3. ( C ) Which of the following statements concerning the duck population in the U.S. is TRUE?
A. It has increased by approximately one-third since 2017.
B. The 2025 population estimate marks an all-time historical low.
C. The population was once recognized as a major success of conservation efforts.
D. Current trends suggest there is no viable method for population recovery.