原文：Beijing has lots of birds, but few birdwatchers
Among the capitals of big economies, Beijing enjoys a surprising distinction. Despite its sometimes harsh weather and chronically polluted air, it hosts more species of birds than any other such city apart from Brasília. Remarkably, however, bird watching remains uncommon.
在大型經濟體的首都中，北京享有不同凡響的地位。儘管被時不時的嚴酷天氣和長期污染的空氣侵襲，在除巴西利亞以外的其他首都城市中，它仍然棲息了最多樣的鳥類。但即便如此，觀鳥在這裏依舊是一件不尋常的事情。
In many countries, birders play an important role in spotting changes in bird populations and avian behaviour. A British enthusiast in Beijing, Terry Townshend, has recently set up a means of doing so without needing to stand for hours out doors. It involves a digital listening device, installed on the roof of a 15-storey building in northern Beijing. For several months until mid-November it recorded the night time calls of migratory birds flying above. The sounds will be used to identify night flying species, some of which are not commonly seen overhead by day. The technique has been used in America and Europe, but Mr Townshend thinks this is its first known application in Asia.
在許多國家，觀鳥者在辨識鳥類數量以及行爲變化中發揮了重要作用。Terry Townshend 是一位待在北京的英國觀鳥愛好者，他最近找到了一個不必花數小時在戶外就能觀鳥的方式。這主要依賴於一個數碼監聽設備，安裝在北京北部一個 15 層高的樓頂上。到 11 月中旬的數月中，它記錄下了不少候鳥在夜晚飛過上空時發出的叫聲。這些聲音將被用來確認鳥的種類，其中一些鳥在白天不易看到。這項技術已經應用於美國和歐洲，而 Townshend 先生認爲這是它第一次在亞洲使用。
Such dedication is rare among amateurs. China has little history of birdwatching. Only in the 19th century, led by Western ornithologists, did the scientific study of birds begin. Birdwatching as a pastime has emerged only in the past two decades, helped by rising incomes that have allowed people to buy spotting scopes, binoculars and cameras.
這種全情投入在業餘愛好者中挺少見。中國觀鳥活動的歷史很短。直至 19 世紀，在西方鳥類學家的指導下，中國關於鳥類的科學研究纔開始起步。而觀鳥作爲一種業餘消遣活動的興起，僅僅發生在過去二十年。這有賴於居民收入的提升，讓一些人有足夠的閒錢用來買（觀鳥用的）鑑識望遠鏡、雙筒望遠鏡和相機。
In other countries, enthusiasts have played a big role in drawing public attention to human threats to birds. Chinese officials sometimes pay attention to gentle recommendations about ways to improve the environment. But they frown on activism. So harm caused to birds or their habitats can go unremarked. One British birder laments the recent draining of supposedly protected paddies by the Wenyu, a river in Beijing that had been a place of rest for about 200 migratory species.
在其他國家，公衆意識到人類活動對鳥類形成的威脅，很大程度歸功於觀鳥愛好者們的活動。中國的官員們有時會留意一些關於環保的溫和提議，但對環保激進主義不以爲然。因此，人類對鳥及其棲息地的傷害並未被大衆注意到。一位英國觀鳥者爲最近本應受溫榆河保護的稻田被排幹而感到惋惜。溫榆河是北京的一條河流，有大約 200 種候鳥在此棲息。
Birdwatching groups in China mostly avoid campaigning. Many of their members stick to taking photographs and do not even bother with binoculars. There is, however, a small but growing number of local birders who closely monitor bird migration. Mr Townshend’s listening device may provide other valuable insights. He plans to install more.
中國的觀鳥羣體大都避免參與社會運動。許多人堅持只拍照片，甚至不願花費錢與精力購置雙筒望遠鏡。儘管如此，仍有一小羣本土觀鳥者在緊密追蹤候鳥的遷徙，他們的數量也在逐漸增加。Townshend 先生的監聽設備可能對此提供了一些有價值的啓發。他準備安裝更多這樣的設備。