閱讀筆記 Science 3018 Treetop Homes

Science 3018
Treetop Homes
What can the materials in a bird’s nest tell you about the creatures that live there?
Have you ever come across an old, empty bird’s nest? You might find one on the ground at the park or in the branches of a tree in your yard. If you think that all birds’ nests are the same, try taking a closer look. You can learn a lot about the bird that made the nest from the materials it used.
lf you find a nest, make sure it is no longer being used before you take it. Birds carry germs, so don’t touch your face until you’ve washed your hands. Tweezers are a helpful tool for taking a nest apart. As you pull out different materials, try to identify them. You’ll probably find some leaves and feathers. You might even recognize the leaves of a nearby tree. Eggshells, moss, grass, cobwebs, and twigs are also popular building supplies.
Birds tend to use materials from their environment. For example, the black tern builds its nest in the water, so the nest is made of broken reeds. Birds that live near cities sometimes use string, wire, bits of newspaper, or pieces of packaging. If you find a hanging woven nest, it probably belongs to a weaver finch. These talented birds weave their nests by pushing the grass through the nest and pulling it out the other side.
The male bowerbird builds a very odd nest. Its purpose is to attract females, so the nest is meant to draw attention. Some items you might find in a bowerbird’s nest are feathers, bones, shells, berries, flowers, buttons, keys, and glass. You’re probably thinking that this doesn’t sound like a cozy place to raise baby birds. The female builds her own nest before she lays her eggs.
Whether the nest is simple or complicated, birds tell the careful observer something about themselves by the construction of their nests.

並不是每個鳥巢都長得一樣
如果你仔細去觀察
鳥巢可能在任何地方
記住那是有細菌的
所以當你碰觸過後記得先洗手再摸自己的臉
這時鉗子就是個好工具
當你觀察不同鳥巢的構造
便會發現鳥類通常會使用住處周遭環境容易取得的物品當作材料
譬如住水邊的可能用蘆葦
住城市的可能用報紙碎片、金屬絲線或包裝紙
也有些製作鳥巢所使用的東西十分奇特
譬如骨頭、鑰匙等聽起來不太舒適的材料製作它們的鳥巢