the ducklings are completely at home on the water.
就已经完全适应了水上的生活
They're growing more independent by the day...
它们每天都会变得更加独♥立♥
and venturing further from their mother.
游得离鸭妈妈越来越远
But they're still naive to what lies beneath.
但它们对于水下的危险一无所知
A northern pike...
这是一条白斑狗鱼
the shark of the pond.
它是池塘中的鲨鱼
It eats fish, frogs, snakes,
它吃鱼、青蛙、蛇
even little ducklings.
甚至还吃小鸭子
Best to keep closer to mom for now.
现在最好待在妈妈身边
Above the pond, love is in the air.
池塘上方的空中弥漫着爱情的气息
Dragonflies are coupling up,
蜻蜓开始成双成对
and damselflies are locked together in mating wheels.
豆娘也双双锁定成了交♥配♥的环形
But those without a partner must keep cruising.
但那些没有交♥配♥对象的必须继续寻找
Flying so close to water is risky.
飞得离水面如此接近风险很大
A damselfly's distress attracts unwanted attention.
一只豆娘的遇险吸引了不速之客
A water strider uses its proboscis to puncture the tough exoskeleton...
水黾用管状长嘴刺穿坚硬的外骨骼
and feed on the soft insides.
食用柔软的内部器官
Many tiny creatures fall victim to the grip of surface tension.
许多微小的生物因表面张力而遇难
A struggling water-lily beetle has the strider circling.
一只挣扎的睡莲甲虫 引来一只水黾伺机而动
But this crafty little bug...
但这只狡猾的虫子
has other plans.
另有打算
The warm, bright days of summer give rise to a forest of aquatic plants.
温暖、日照充足的夏日 让池塘中长出了一大♥片♥水生植物
And all sorts of small animals grow up feeding on them.
各种各样的小动物长大成年 以这些植物为食
In six weeks,
在六周内
the tadpoles have developed back legs, teeth and a raging appetite.
蝌蚪长出了后腿、唇齿 还有一个吃不饱的胃口
As the day wears on,
随着时间的推移
ever greater numbers venture into the shallows to feed on algae and plants.
越来越多的小动物来到浅水区 吃水藻和植物
Food is not all they've come for.
它们的目的不仅仅是觅食
The warmer water around the pond's edge helps speed up their metamorphosis.
池塘边缘的水温更高 有助于加速它们的变♥态♥过程
Some have already sprouted front legs...
有些蝌蚪已经长出了前腿
and once their lungs develop, they'll be ready to leave the pond.
一旦肺发育完成 它们就可以离开池塘了
But so many tadpoles crammed into such shallow water
但这么多蝌蚪挤在这么浅的水中
is inviting trouble.
就是自找麻烦
Garter snakes usually hunt on land.
袜带蛇通常在陆地上捕食
But they will take to the water to prey on such easy targets.
但是它们也会到水中 来捕食如此容易得手的猎物
A single tadpole has little chance against an agile snake.
一只蝌蚪面对敏捷的蛇毫无机会
But with safety in numbers, the vast majority survive unscathed.
但是它们数量巨大 保证大部分蝌蚪得以存活下来
As each day cools, the tadpoles return to the relative safety of deeper water.
每天夜晚降临时 蝌蚪就会回到相对安全的深水区
This great migration marks the end of their daily routine.
这个大规模的迁徙 标志着它们每日行程的结束
Thousands of little lives on one incredible journey.
成千上万的小生命踏上了不可思议的旅程
A whopping 60 meters, there and back.
往返距离长达60米
The late days of summer are a last chance to feed up...
夏天快要结束了 这是最后的觅食机会
before harder times return.
严酷的季节就要回来了
Months of relentless hunting have honed the water shrew's skills.
几个月不知疲倦的捕食 令水鼩的技巧越发精湛
Even a crayfish is no match for him now.
就连淡水螯虾现在都不是它的对手了
The ducklings have also become agile predators...
小鸭子也成了敏捷的捕食者
diving down to feast on insects and fish.
它们潜水捕食昆虫和鱼
At three months old, they are accomplished swimmers.
三个月大时 它们已是优秀的游泳能手
And soon they must master flight as well...
它们很快还必须学会飞行
ready for their winter migration.
为冬季迁徙做好准备
Many of the pond's other tiny residents are already moving on.
池塘中的很多小小居民已经开始迁徙了
Young toads and frogs make for the surrounding forest.
小蛤♥蟆♥和小青蛙向周围的森林前进
The exodus continues as autumn races towards winter.
随着秋天快步走向冬天 迁徙继续进行
Last to leave are the hooded mergansers...
最后离开的是镜冠秋沙鸭
taking to the air to join the long journey south.
它们飞上天空 飞往南方
But the pond is not left totally empty.
但是池塘并没有完全空出来
Insulated beneath the ice...
在冰层的保护下
little creatures are protected from the wintry world outside.
各种小生物不会受到外面严冬的侵袭
Locked in until spring returns...
它们会躲在这里 直到春天归来
and the pond fills with tiny lives once more.
池塘里会再次充满各种小小的生命