Экология сегодня. Макеева М.Н - 5 стр.

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A recent study on regional forest fragmentation pinned much of the blame on urban sprawl and develop-
ment, which are significantly altering and removing valuable ecosystems on which birds depend. This is not
only happening in the United States, but it is happening worldwide. In the US alone, this affects 80 percent of
the total bird population since about 520 of the US’ 650 bird species migrate.
Wetlands are areas that link water and land. They include a wide range of areas from marshes and swamps
to areas between dry land and rivers, streams, lakes and coastlines. Though they are not necessarily wet year-
round, they harbor very rich nutrients for plants and animals, including insects, which are a primary food for
birds. Thus, wetlands provide vital habitat for many species of plants and animals, including about half of all
known bird species.
But wetlands also provide needed protection of property and water quality vital for humans. They act as a
sponge to absorb floodwaters from nearby streams and rivers or ocean tides, for example, and they filter out
impurities and pollutants that could flow into main water sources. Wetlands also serve to clean the air of carbon
dioxide, which is absorbed by plants. Carbon dioxide is the substance, which enables photosynthesis in plants,
the process by which solar energy is converted into food and fiber necessary for plant growth and health. As
wetlands become fragmented and disappear, the domino effect extends directly to both humans and wildlife and
their respective qualities of life.
Birds live on more than 20 percent of the Earth’s surface, but about three-fourths of the threatened or en-
dangered birds inhabit less than five percent of the land. This enables most bird species to be easily tracked,
particularly threatened species, and also allows scientists, conservationists and property owners to focus their
attention where extinction risks are the highest. Generally, these tracking and planning activities can simultane-
ously focus on threats to the environment since they are usually at the heart of risks to bird populations.
Bird watching is one of the world’s most treasured pastimes. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service,
76 million Americans are actively engaged in the sport of bird watching – or birding, making it the second larg-
est leisure time activity just behind gardening. It is estimated that Americans spend over $12 billion each year
on birdseed and related equipment, making birding not only a major hobby but also big business.
Yet, birding is very important for studying birds and migrations, particularly small migratory birds. There
are literally tens of thousands of reporting groups, Internet sites and other forums used by birders to report their
findings. Other methods of reporting bird statistics, particularly those of threatened or endangered species, in-
clude radar and bird banding (ringing). While radar may be useful in determining mass movements of birds, it
is limited in its range and value of information detail collected.
Traditionally popular among scientists and conservationists, bird banding involves the attachment of a
band, or ring, on a bird – usually placed harmlessly and painlessly around the bird’s leg – which carries special
identification (serial number) and tracking information unique to the bird. When they are located, the serial
number assigned to the bird is sent to the US Fish & Wildlife Service Bird Branding Laboratory where the in-
formation is recorded.
Each year, over a half-million birds are banded by scientists in North America. This is significant because
bird banding provides ornithologists with valuable information about the birds, their migration patterns health
and other information, which help, determine what they need in order to survive. With this information, orni-
thologists can best work with conservationists and other scientists and policy makers in creating sound conser-
vation policy.
But a new form of tracking birds began to emerge in the 1980s involving satellites and tiny transmitters at-
tached to the birds themselves. Information about each bird’s location and activity is beamed to a satellite,
which is then stored by the spacecraft’s data collection system. This information is then sent to ground stations
on Earth and ultimately is sent to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland for analysis. The informa-
tion collected includes such vital information as the location of the bird, body and ambient temperature, flight
speed, etc.
Armed with the comprehensive information now being collected about the world’s migratory birds, scien-
tists hope to discover clues and develop solutions relating to Earth’s environmental health. Yet, this information
will be effective in helping individuals understand the true inter-connectivity of all life, which will lead to
sound policy for sustainable development.
Words and Expressions:
− formidable – грозный; жуткий, пугающий, чудовищный
− to migrate – мигрировать (о животных), совершать перелет
(о птицах)

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