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.
在大型经济体的首都中，北京享有不同凡响的地位。尽管被时不时的严酷天气和长期污染的空气侵袭，在除巴西利亚以外的其他首都城市中，它仍然栖息了最多样的鸟类。但即便如此，观鸟在这里依旧是一件不寻常的事情。
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.
在许多国家，观鸟者在辨识鸟类数量以及行为变化中发挥了重要作用。Terry Townshend 是一位待在北京的英国观鸟爱好者，他最近找到了一个不必花数小时在户外就能观鸟的方式。这主要依赖于一个数码监听设备，安装在北京北部一个 15 层高的楼顶上。到 11 月中旬的数月中，它记录下了不少候鸟在夜晚飞过上空时发出的叫声。这些声音将被用来确认鸟的种类，其中一些鸟在白天不易看到。这项技术已经应用于美国和欧洲，而 Townshend 先生认为这是它第一次在亚洲使用。
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.
这种全情投入在业余爱好者中挺少见。中国观鸟活动的历史很短。直至 19 世纪，在西方鸟类学家的指导下，中国关于鸟类的科学研究才开始起步。而观鸟作为一种业余消遣活动的兴起，仅仅发生在过去二十年。这有赖于居民收入的提升，让一些人有足够的闲钱用来买（观鸟用的）鉴识望远镜、双筒望远镜和相机。
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.
在其他国家，公众意识到人类活动对鸟类形成的威胁，很大程度归功于观鸟爱好者们的活动。中国的官员们有时会留意一些关于环保的温和提议，但对环保激进主义不以为然。因此，人类对鸟及其栖息地的伤害并未被大众注意到。一位英国观鸟者为最近本应受温榆河保护的稻田被排干而感到惋惜。温榆河是北京的一条河流，有大约 200 种候鸟在此栖息。
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.
中国的观鸟群体大都避免参与社会运动。许多人坚持只拍照片，甚至不愿花费钱与精力购置双筒望远镜。尽管如此，仍有一小群本土观鸟者在紧密追踪候鸟的迁徙，他们的数量也在逐渐增加。Townshend 先生的监听设备可能对此提供了一些有价值的启发。他准备安装更多这样的设备。