鸟类秘闻（2012）

这些加拿大雁是从纳福什河口湾飞过来的
These Canada Geese are taking off from the Nevern Estuary.
寒鸦特别吵闹
Jackdaws are particular noisy.
这些要回拉内利附近的栖息地了
These are returning to roost near Llanelli.
但威尔士最令人眼前一亮
But the most impressive communication show in Wales,
听觉和视觉双赞的
both in terms of sound and vision,
鸟群齐飞秀是由星椋鸟表演的
is that performed by starlings.
它们来阿伯里斯特威斯 在码头过夜
These have arrived at Aberystwyth to spend the night on the pier.
噢! 这的天空满是星椋鸟
Oh! The sky here is just full of starlings.
来来往往
Back and forth.
看他们飞入栖息地真像是在催眠
Watching them coming into roost is really hypnotic.
这个庞大形状随时不断变化
This huge shape that is constantly changing all the time.
和阿伯里斯特威斯码头相比
The advantage with Aberystwyth Pier
就是小不点
is that it's so short.
然而鸟群正飞过你的头顶
That means that the display comes right over your head.
还有 你可以听到它们
And also, you can hear them.
数千双翅膀 如果你听仔细的话
thousands of wings If you listen carefully,
所有这些翅膀都是同步的
all these wings beating at once.
它们不断彼此沟通
They call to each other constantly.
正因为你离这整个奇观如此之近
Because you are so close to the whole spectacle here,
所以你能感受的到
you feel part of it.
又来了 快看啊! 一波鸟海涌过来了
Here they go again, look at that! A wave of starlings coming over.
噢 哇喔!
Oh, wow!
黄昏时分 数千只降临 大概有两万多只
By dusk, thousands arrive. Maybe 20,000 or more.
没人确切知道星椋鸟为什么要这么做
No-one knows for sure why starlings do this,
但它们聚在一起肯定有某种原因
but they are certainly communicating with each other for some reason.
它们不断在鸣叫
They are constantly calling.
齐飞秀本身可能是一种自身社会需要
The flying display itself may serve a social need.
它们把自己组织起来
They might be organising themselves
变成最强大最合适的状态
into the strongest and fittest
最终寻求最佳的栖息落脚位置
to eventually get the best roosting position.
它们也可能是通过群绕方式免受
They might be moving around to protect themselves
捕食鸟侵犯
from predatory birds.
可能只是落地前查看栖息地的状况
It could simply be checking out the roost before they land.
不论什么原因 可堪称奇景
Whatever the reason, it's an impressive sight.
着陆之后它们继续在鸣叫交流
They continue to call and chatter after landing.
此时所有鸟儿都找到栖身之地
By the time every bird has found a perch,
很难找到空位了
there's hardly a single position free.
依偎在一起 它们能保持温暖
Huddled together, they keep warm.
位于栖息地中♥央♥的鸟儿们
The birds at the centre of the roost
不只是更温暖
will not only be warmer,
还更安全
but safer too.
狐狸 猫猫 游隼在这抓不到它们
No fox, cat or peregrine can get at them here.
这是威尔士东北部 朗高伦镇鲁阿本山的
It's first light on Ruabon Mountain near Llangollen
第一缕阳光
in North East Wales.
黎明 渐渐 起生机
Dawn, literally, is stirring.
能听到奇怪的声音从数英里外
Strange noises can be heard for miles
穿越摩尔荒原而来
across the barren moore.
这声音是雄黑琴鸡发出的
The sounds are made by male black grouse.
它们在散步
They are displaying.
争斗出现了
A contest is taking place.
胜者将会成为这里的统治者
The winner will be the top bird of this patch.
他将会是最厉害最给力的黑琴鸡
He will be the best and fittest grouse.
胜者将有权挑选母鸡
The one that will have the pick of the females.
要赢得战斗 叫声大还不够
To win the contest, making a big noise will not be enough.
最厉害的公鸡扮相也要好
The best grouse will also have to look good.
这两只鸡让自己变大 色彩变艳丽
These birds have made themselves big and colourful.
它们的体毛有着美丽的光泽
Their body feathers have a beautiful sheen.
尾巴转变成了一把明亮的白羽扇
The tail has transformed to a bright white fan.
红鸡冠或者说是"篱笆"的尺寸
The red head pats or wattles
比平时大了四分之三
are normally a quarter of this size.
鸡冠充满了血色 使得更加易见
They have been engorged by blood to make them more visible.
这样的精心扮相
And all this massive visual
声嘶力歇只为了一件事
and vocal effort is for one thing only,
赢得和母鸡交♥配♥的权利
to earn the right to mate with a female.
对于这位来说 所有的努力终得偿
And for this male, all the effort has paid off.
雄鸟们吸引雌鸟的生理需求
The need for males to attract females
给我们威尔士带了大量美丽的鸟儿
has led to the huge variety of beautiful birds we have in Wales.
有头饰的凤头麦鸡
Lapwings with headdresses,
身披彩色外套的金翅雀
goldfinches with multi-coloured jackets,
穿着明亮彩色马甲的鹡鸰
wagtails with bright coloured waistcoats
鲜艳着装的山鸡
and colourfully adorned pheasants.
雄鸟们冬去春来的时候通常会换装
Male birds often change their colour from Winter to Spring.
这是红嘴鸥冬天时候的模样
This is the Winter version of a black headed gull.
这是夏季的模样
This is the Summer version.
星椋鸟换了喙的颜色披上了光泽的外衣
Starlings change their beak colour and develop a very glossy coat.
小在春天同样长出了有色彩的羽毛
Little grebes also grow colourful feathers for the Spring.
目的全都是为了向雌鸟求爱
The all do this to court females.
那将是我们下期"鸟儿奥秘"的内容
That will be my next Secret Life of Birds.
蓬莱峰:南威尔士和南英国的最高峰
纳福什河口湾,位于威尔士纽波特城附近
布雷肯国家公园,位于英国洪都河畔