Because it is spring, this little bird nest, on this swing, has a little egg in it.

因為是春天，這個小鳥窩，在這個鞦韆上，有一個小雞蛋。

That's crazy!

太瘋狂了！

That was me a few months ago, right after I discovered this bird's nest

那是幾個月前，我發現這個鳥巢後的情景

with a single bright blue egg sitting on this porch swing.

有一個鮮豔的藍色雞蛋坐在這個門廊鞦韆上。

A few days later it had four eggs. Guess what happened next?

幾天後，它生了四個蛋。猜猜接下來發生了什麼？

They hatched. And you better believe I named them.

它們孵化了你最好相信我給它們起了名字

This is Goose, Pepper Jack, Dot, and Rocco

這是大鵝，胡椒傑克，小不點，還有羅科。

For a few weeks when I was really bored during lockdown,

在封鎖期間，有幾個星期我真的很無聊。

I watched these little baby birds grow and grow and grow.

我看著這些小鳥寶寶長大，長大，長大。

And, I started to film them.

然後，我開始拍攝他們。

And they let me get really close.

他們讓我真正的接近。

I even filmed them in slow motion, you'll find out why later.

我甚至用慢動作拍下了它們，你以後會知道為什麼。

As I watched them grow, a million questions popped in my head.

看著它們的成長，我的腦海裡蹦出了無數個問題。

Why is the egg blue, how long do the eggs take to hatch,

雞蛋為什麼是藍色的，雞蛋要多長時間才能孵化。

what type of bird is this, w hat do baby birds eat?

這是什麼鳥，小鳥吃什麼？

Can they eat bees? Why is bird poop white?

它們能吃蜜蜂嗎？為什麼鳥糞是白色的？

Are they safe in the nest, when do they start to fly?

它們在窩裡安全嗎，什麼時候開始飛？

Do they know they are birds? Why do they look creepy?

它們知道自己是鳥嗎？為什麼它們看起來很詭異？

When do they grow feathers? Are they always sleeping?

它們什麼時候長出羽毛？它們總是在睡覺嗎？

Do they know who their parents are? When do they open their eyes?

他們知道自己的父母是誰嗎？他們什麼時候睜開眼睛？

But my biggest question? How is this tiny little nest not full of poop?

但我最大的疑問是？這個小小的窩裡怎麼會沒有滿滿的大便呢？

To answer all my questions, I tracked down this guy.

為了回答我所有的問題，我找到了這個人。

My name is Michael Murphy, I'm a professor of biology at Portland State University in

我叫邁克爾-墨菲 我是波特蘭州立大學的生物學教授

Portland Oregon.

俄勒岡州波特蘭市。

He's an ornithologist which means he studies birds.

他是鳥類學家，也就是說他研究鳥類。

My personal interest is in the behavior of birds,

我個人的興趣是鳥類的行為。

and the population biology of birds.

和鳥類的種群生物學。

And when he says birds he means a lot of birds.

當他說鳥的時候，他指的是很多鳥。

tree swallows barn swallows

燕子

cliff swallows eastern phoebes

燕子

spotted towhees I've worked on a species known as the eastern

斑點拖鞋 我曾在一個被稱為東部的物種上工作過。

kingbird since 1979.

自1979年以來，Kingbird。

As you can see I have a tattoo of it right there.

如你所見，我在那裡紋了一個紋身。

He studies all of their behaviors, like where they sleep, what they eat, and how they travel.

他研究他們所有的行為，比如他們在哪裡睡覺，吃什麼，以及他們如何旅行。

And he also knows a lot about bird poop, which brings us back to the eggs I found on

而且他對鳥糞也很瞭解，這又讓我們回到了我發現的鳥蛋上

my porch.

我們門廊。

So what type of birds are in these eggs?

那麼，這些蛋裡的鳥是什麼類型的呢？

Well, that was an American Robin.

嗯，那是一個美國羅賓。

When it grows up, it's got this fire-y orange belly.

當它長大後，就有了這火一般的橙色肚皮。

It's impressive. This animal breeds across this enormous swath of North America.

這是令人印象深刻的。這隻動物在北美這塊巨大的土地上繁殖。

It travels as far north as Alaska to breed in the springtime, and as far south as Mexico

它最北到阿拉斯加在春季繁殖，最南到墨西哥。

during the cold winter months.

在寒冷的冬季，。

That's over 5,000 miles.

那是5000多英里

It seems, as long as you've got a structure it can put a nest on, and as long as it can

看來，只要你有一個結構，它就能把巢築起來，只要它能

get some good mud to build a nest, you're going to find it.

找些好泥巴築巢，你會找到的。

So it's just extremely adaptable.

所以它的適應性就非常強。

So, let's walk through the life of my porch Robins.

那麼，讓我們來走一走我門廊羅賓斯的生活。

First, they're just 4 little eggs. Why are they blue?

首先，它們只是4個小雞蛋。為什麼它們是藍色的？

Well, that's a big question.

嗯，這是一個大問題。

What we do know is that bird eggs come in all sizes and colors.

我們知道的是，鳥蛋有各種大小和顏色。

White eggs, like this giant ostrich egg, have been around for millions of years.

白蛋，比如這個巨大的鴕鳥蛋，已經存在了數百萬年。

Over time the eggs, just like the birds themselves, have adapted to survive.

隨著時間的推移，雞蛋就像鳥兒本身一樣，已經適應了生存。

Some are speckled because they want to blend into their environment.

有些人之所以有斑點，是因為他們想融入環境。

Do you see the three eggs in this photo? Look closer.

你看到這張照片中的三個雞蛋了嗎？仔細看

And for Blue eggs? The blue color is caused by a pigment in the

而對於藍蛋呢？藍色是由雞蛋中的一種色素引起的。

mother. It's the same pigment that makes bruises

母親。就是這種色素，讓瘀傷變得更嚴重。

turn blue.

變成藍色。

And some butterflies, like this one, have bright blue on their wings.

而有些蝴蝶，比如這隻，翅膀上有亮藍色。

Pigments also strengthen egg shells.

顏料還可以強化蛋殼。

So it's actually an active area of research. Still trying to figure out why bird's eggs

所以這其實是一個活躍的研究領域。還在試圖弄清楚為什麼鳥蛋

are blue.

是藍色的。

So, the mother lays the bright blue eggs. The parents incubate those eggs, it takes

所以，母親會產下亮藍色的卵。父母孵化這些蛋，需要...

about 14 days for them to complete their development.

大約14天的時間讓他們完成開發。

Then, they hatch.

然後，他們孵化。

And then they're going to spend roughly twelve days more in the nest. And over that 12 day

然後它們會在窩裡多呆大概12天。而在這12天裡

period, they — as you saw in your films — change enormously. They go from a non-flying individual

正如你在電影中看到的那樣 他們發生了巨大的變化。他們從一個不會飛的個體

that is completely helpless, they're completely blind, they have no

這是完全無助的，他們是完全盲目的，他們沒有。

feathers except for a little down. They really look like aliens.

羽毛，除了一點羽絨。它們看起來真像外星人。

Within 14 days, they are out of the nest.

14天內，它們就會離開巢穴。

Instead of little bald aliens, they look like grumpy old men.

他們不是小光頭外星人，而是看起來像脾氣暴躁的老人。

And within just a few more days, they're actually

而在短短几天內，他們居然是

able to fly. Not like an adult, but they can fly.

能飛。不像成人，但他們能飛。

So, what exactly happens in those two weeks in the nest?

那麼，在窩裡的這兩週到底發生了什麼？

I don't know if you've ever tried to raise a baby bird, but it's just so time consuming

我不知道你有沒有試過養一隻小鳥，但這太費時間了。

because they just eat and process food all day.

因為他們整天只管吃和加工食物。

Watch this - Dot, Goose, Rocco, and Pepper Jack are deep in sleep.

看這個--小不點、大鵝、羅科和辣椒傑克都沉浸在睡夢中。

But, when they hear their parents come, they shoot right up, super fast.

但是，當他們聽到父母來的時候，他們就會馬上開槍，速度超快。

They worms, bees, caterpillars, and flies.

它們蟲子、蜜蜂、毛蟲和蒼蠅。

And they have to eat so much, because they have to grow so quickly.

而且它們必須吃這麼多，因為它們必須長得這麼快。

The selection to grow fast to get out of the nest,

選擇快速成長，以擺脫被窩。

is probably mostly related to the fact that lots of things eat baby birds.

可能主要是跟很多東西吃鳥寶寶有關。

And, therefore, it's a dangerous point in their life.

是以，這也是他們人生中的一個危險點。

Getting through that quickly is important.

迅速度過這個難關很重要。

Now, if I know one thing about babies, it's this:

現在，如果我知道一件關於嬰兒的事，那就是：

They eat, they sleep, and they poop.

他們吃飯、睡覺、拉屎。

And it can get very messy.

而且會變得非常混亂。

But somehow, this nest is spotless.

但不知為何，這個窩卻一塵不染。

So, where on earth does all the poop go?

那麼，這些大便到底去了哪裡？

I recorded hours upon hours

我記錄了幾個小時又幾個小時

of footage to figure out

鏡頭來計算

exactly where this poop was going,

確切地說是在哪裡，這個大便是去。

because it seemed to just disappear into thin air.

因為它似乎只是消失在空氣中。

And then, I spotted it.

然後，我發現了它。

Turns out, the hatchlings definitely pooped a whole lot…

事實證明，幼苗絕對是拉了一大堆屎... ...

But they were pooping directly into their parent's mouth.

但他們是直接往父母嘴裡拉屎的。

And the parents

而父母

were eating it.

正在吃它。

Uh, your observation that the nest is extremely clean is very accurate.

呃，你觀察到的巢穴非常乾淨，非常準確。

And it's because they have those structures referred to as fecal sacs.

這是因為它們有那些被稱為糞囊的結構。

They're basically like baby bird diapers,

它們基本上就像小鳥的尿布。

so instead of bird poop making a huge mess,

所以，而不是鳥糞製造一個巨大的混亂。

the fecal sacs keep it nice and contained.

糞囊讓它保持良好和控制。

I mean it really looks like a disposable diaper.

我的意思是它看起來真的像一個一次性尿布。

Uh, but the adults, as you filmed,

呃，但成年人，因為你拍。

they'll wait at the rim of the nest for that baby

他們會在巢邊等著寶寶的到來

to pick up that fecal sac

撿起那個糞囊

the moment it emerges from the body.

當它從身體裡出來的那一刻。

Now, once the parent has the fecal sac,

現在，一旦父母有了糞囊。

they do one of two things.

他們做兩件事中的一件。

If you've got young that are sedentary

如果你有年輕人，是久坐的

and they are going to be

而他們將是

in one spot for days, maybe weeks,

在一個地方几天，也許幾周。

you don't want that getting too dirty.

你不想讓它變得太髒。

So, sometimes the parents fly away with it

所以，有時候父母會帶著它飛走

to drop it off somewhere else far away from the nest.

要把它扔到遠離巢穴的其他地方。

But in many cases,

但在很多情況下。

the parents ate the fecal sac.

父母吃了糞囊。

As I was watching your film,

我在看你的電影時

I started to get a little sick to my stomach after a while.

過了一會兒，我開始有點反胃。

Oh yeah.

哦，是的。

I know birds do this,

我知道鳥類會這樣做。

but after a while, you watch them do it

但久而久之，你就會看到他們這樣做。

that many times you go "Oh man isn't that like ew"

很多時候你會說："哦，夥計，是不是像EW"

You know?

你知道嗎？

Why don't you just throw them all away?

你為什麼不把它們都扔掉呢？

One of the hypothesis

假設之一

as to why they eat them is that

至於他們為什麼要吃它們是

there's useful material

有料

in the fecal sacs.

糞囊中。

And so it might behoove the parents,

所以，這可能是父母的福音。

since they're already working very hard to keep those babies fed,

因為他們已經非常努力地工作，以保持這些嬰兒的食物。

Uh, to just eat them.

呃，只是吃他們。

And capture the energy and water

並捕捉能量和水

that is still remaining in the fecal sacs.

仍殘留在糞囊中。

Tasty.

好吃。

Not all birds do this.

並非所有的鳥都會這樣做。

So, this is an osprey nest.

所以，這是一個鶚巢。

What they do instead

他們所做的是

is the babies, well when they're really young,

是嬰兒，以及當他們真的年輕。

they probably do poop in the nest a little bit.

他們可能會在窩裡拉一點屎。

But, as they get older

但是，隨著年齡的增長

The youngsters position themselves

年輕人對自己的定位

when they have to go

當他們不得不去

over the edge of the nest

傾巢

they point their butts out over the edge

屁顛屁顛

and then they'll just poop

然後他們就會大便

right off the edge of the nest.

就在巢穴的邊緣。

The world is their toilet.

這個世界就是他們的廁所。

After 12-14 days growing in the nest,

經過12-14天在巢內生長。

hatchlings start to get really crowded.

孵化器開始變得非常擁擠。

Here's a moment where Goose, literally fell out the nest cause he barely fit.

這裡有一個時刻，鵝，真的從窩裡掉出來了，因為他幾乎不適合。

Don't worry Goose made it back in.

別擔心，大鵝回來了。

Getting to that point is rough

到了這個地步就很難了

because probably 60 percent of nests fail.

因為可能有60%的巢穴失敗了。

But this nest? It made it.

但這個窩？它做到了。

The very last piece of footage I captured was this:

我拍到的最後一塊鏡頭是這樣的。

Rocco just flew right off the porch.

羅科就這樣從門廊上飛了出去。

Of those that do get out of the nest,

在那些確實出巢的人中。

they're going to have to make it through to their first year,

他們將不得不通過他們的第一年。

and maybe only about 30 percent of them actually survive.

也許只有30%的人真正存活下來。

Now they've got to begin the important process of reproduction

現在他們要開始重要的繁殖過程了

Basically in just one year, the hatchlings become the parents,

基本上只需一年的時間，孵化出來的孩子就會成為父母。

and the process starts all over again.

而這個過程又重新開始。

What can birds teach us?

鳥類能教會我們什麼？

Hard work.

辛苦的工作。

Birds are hard working individuals, that's for sure.

鳥類是勤勞的個體，這是肯定的。

They can teach us about ourselves,

它們可以讓我們瞭解自己。

but they can also teach us about the world we live in.

但它們也能讓我們瞭解我們所處的世界。

What they are showing us

他們向我們展示了什麼？

is how connected the world is.

是世界的連接程度。

Birds migrate huge distances

鳥類長途遷徙

and then there are some species which

還有一些物種

literally call the world, the world, their home.

從字面上看，這個世界，就是他們的家。

Increasingly, as time goes on,

隨著時間的推移，越來越多。

we studied them to preserve them and conserve them.

我們研究它們，是為了保存它們，保護它們。

So, I think they really are showing us

所以，我覺得他們真的是在向我們展示

that we have to take a large

我們必須採取大

picture view of the world.

世界的圖景。