“Why do birds sing?” I asked a group of children. “To attract metes (配偶)!” answered a boy. A 4-year-old girl added shyly, “Birds sing because they are happy, and they want to make us happy, too. “I think both answers are probably true in a way. If birds sing happily, it shows all is good in the forest: no predators (捕食者) are present, and the birds can feed, sing and do other things. The sound of a relaxed robin (知更鸟) singing is easy to understand because it makes us feel this way too—it’s a sound that lifts our own hearts when we hear it.

What happens when a predator comes into their areas? The nearby birds quickly give an alarm (警报) call, a short sound that warns, “Danger is coming!” On hearing the sound, the other birds stop singing and fly away, the deer lift their heads and stop moving and the rabbits run into the bushes. Suddenly, the forest becomes very quiet.

When humans walk through the woods in a hurry or while talking with a friend, we don’t see much wildlife. We may think that there aren’t many animals living there, but more likely, they know we are coming and hide minutes before our arrival. But if we learn to shut off alarms, we can see many more wild animals without frightening them. To practice, find a place in a park and sit quietly for an hour. Take notes as the birds begin to relax and sing again. When I do this, I am always surprised at the wonderful thing animals will do when humans stay still (不动的) long enough.

A bird diary is a record of all the birds you have seen. Here’s how you can prepare information for your bird diary:

*Find a quiet place where there are lots of birds. Birds like places where they can find food and water.

*Sit in a place where you will stay quiet. Don’t scare the birds with sudden movements or loud noises.

*Make notes about the birds. Look at one bird at a time. What can you see? Write about it in a small notebook. At home copy your notes up clearly into your bird diary.

*Draw pictures of the birds. Do quick drawings in your notebook. You can also take photos of the birds. At home, copy the drawings into your bird diary. Put photos into your bird diary, too.

It’s easy to forget things. Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

*What color is the bird? Some birds have bright colors to attract (吸引) other birds. Some birds are the same color as the land they live on, so that enemies don’t see them.

*________________? Some birds have wide powerful wings. Others have small wings that move quickly when they fly. You can stick feathers (羽毛) in your bird diary. Remember never to steal eggs from them.

*What is the bird’s beak like? Birds with short beaks, like finches (雀类), eat seeds. Some birds, like hoopoes (戴胜鸟), have long sharp beaks to catch worms. Hawks and eagles (鹰) have strong beaks. They eat meat.

*What are the bird’s feet like? Can they catch the tree? Are they good for walking or swimming?

—A bird diary from Janet

Senior high is a beginning of your great adventure. It is a time to challenge yourself to improve. Here are three seniors to share their secrets and advice with you.