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3,000 Eggs Left After Drone Scares Birds

Some 3,000 tern eggs were abandoned at a Southern California nesting island after a drone crashed and scared off the birds, a newspaper reported in June.

In May, two drones were flown illegally over the Bolsa Chica Ecological¹ Reserve in Huntington Beach, California. One of them went down in the wetlands, The Orange County Register, a local newspaper, reported.

Fearing an attack from a predator², several thousand terns abandoned their ground-based nests, reported the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Usually during June, the white birds would be watching their eggs as they begin to hatch. But now, the sand is filled with eggshells.

Melissa Loebl is the manager of the nature reserve. She called it one of the largest abandonment of eggs ever at the coastal³ area. The reserve is about 160 km north of San Diego, California.

Last year, the pandemic brought more and more people to outdoor spaces. In 2020, about 100,000 visitors came to the Bolsa Chica reserve. That is up from about 60,000 in 2019, she told the newspaper.

That has led to an increase in human activity, including flying drones, walking dogs, and riding bicycles. All these activities are not permitted.

Loebl said that there has been a great increase in dogs, particularly those permitted to run free. She explained that this is especially bad during the nesting season.

"The dogs chase the birds, and the birds abandon their nests," she said.

Another problem is the development of multimillion-dollar homes near the reserve, said Fish and Wildlife guardian⁴ Nick Molsberry. While most residents respect the rules of the reserve, he said, some do not.

Some residents, suggested Molsberry, feel entitled and feel they "should be able to use the land as they like." Officials, however, are increasing enforcement and fining people who break the rules.

The reserve is the largest saltwater marsh⁵ between Monterey Bay just south of San Francisco and the Tijuana River Estuary⁶ in Mexico. Some 800 species of plants and animals live at or migrate to Bolsa Chica.

Words in This Story

abandoned – adj. left without needed protection, care, or support

drone – n. an un-crewed aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers

wetland – n. an area of land (such as a marsh or swamp) that is covered with shallow water

predator – n. an animal that lives by killing⁷ and eating other animals : an animal that preys⁸ on other animals

hatch – v. to come out of an egg

resident – n. someone who lives in a particular place

entitled – adj. having a right to certain benefits or privileges

marsh – n. an area of soft, wet land that has many grasses and other plants

1 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

2 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

3 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

4 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

5 marsh   

n.沼泽，湿地

参考例句：

• There are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。
• I made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。

6 estuary   

n.河口，江口

参考例句：

• We live near the Thames estuary.我们的住处靠近泰晤士河入海口。
• The ship has touched bottom.The estuary must be shallower than we thought.船搁浅了。这河口的水比我们想像的要浅。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 preys   

v.掠食( prey的第三人称单数 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生

参考例句：

• His misfortune preys upon his mind. 他的不幸使她心中苦恼。 来自辞典例句
• The owl preys on mice. 猫头鹰捕食老鼠。 来自辞典例句