◎ 魏國金

A pair of magpies has constructed a nest in a built-up part of Hong Kong using metal sticks apparently swiped from a nearby construction site, a report said.

一篇報導指出，一對喜鵲利用金屬棒，在香港一處新興區築了一個鳥巢，這些金屬棒顯然是竊取自附近的工地。

In an example of nature’s ability to improvise even in the most urban setting, a third of the nest in the city’s Tuen Mun district was found to be made from metal, the Sunday Morning Post reported.

週日南華早報報導，此例顯示，即使在最城市化的環境，生物皆有就地取材的本能；已發現香港屯門區三分之一的鳥巢是由金屬做成。

The innovative construction only came to light after around 40 metal sticks appeared on the ground over the past week, with one striking a woman on the head, it said.

這個創新的「建築物」在上週地上出現約40條金屬棒，其中一條打到一名婦女頭部後才曝光。

The Leisure Department said it believed the birds may have taken the sticks from a construction site close to the tree where the nest is located.

香港康樂及文化事務署說，咸信鳥兒是從鳥巢所在的樹木附近的工地取得金屬棒。

Cheung Ho-fai, of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, told the Post it was the first time he had heard of a nest being built with metal, although there had been reports of construction with nylon string and plastic trash. "Urban construction has already compressed birds’ settlement space," he said. "I hope humans and birds can live peacefully together."

香港觀鳥協會的專家張浩輝告訴早報說，雖然已有以尼龍線與塑膠垃圾築鳥巢的報導，但這還是他頭一遭聽到用金屬築巢的事。「都市建築已壓縮鳥類的棲地，」他說。「我盼望人鳥能和平共存。」

新聞辭典

pilfer︰動詞，一點一點地偷竊，剽竊。例句︰She had been pilfering from the cash box for months.（幾個月來她一直從錢箱中偷錢。）

built-up︰名詞，發展、增強、積聚，也有捧場之意。例句︰The play had a big build-up in the press.（這齣戲在報上大受好評。）

improvise︰動詞，臨時湊成、即興演出。例句︰The cook hastily improvised a supper.（廚師臨時做了頓晚餐。）

自由時報-980304

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