纪录片《卧底企鹅帮》 第39期 成长的烦恼(4)

For once, things have gone in the Humboldts' favour.

终于洪堡企鹅有了优势

The cormorants¹ may have cleared the area,

鸬鹚们把海滩清理干净了

but the penguins² now have to compete with them for fish.

但是现在企鹅得和它们竞争捕鱼

It's lucky that in these rich waters, there's plenty to go round.

幸运的是，这带水域鱼类富集，足以为它们提供食物

In the Antarctic, the chick spycamera

在南极，企鹅宝宝摄像机

is proving a real hit with penguins who haven't managed to breed this year.

成为了今年没有繁殖的企鹅的新宠

One even tries to take the spycam under her wing.

它甚至想把摄像机揽到自己的双翼之下

But it's a real chick that reacts to her contact call.

那边的真正的小企鹅回应了它的召唤声

Even so, the adult seems to prefer Chickcam.

即便如此，这只企鹅还是对摄像机偏爱有加

As usual, this penguincam is accepted as just another bird in the colony.

通常来说，这样的企鹅摄像机是作为同类被接受的

But Chickcam has work to do.

但是企鹅宝宝摄像机还有任务需要完成

The real chicks are growing up fast.

真正的小企鹅正在快速生长

They now spend most of their day in the huddle³,

它们现在大多数时间都在聚集在一起

while the adults watch from the sidelines.

而成年企鹅只能在一边观望着

They only meet at feeding time.

小企鹅和父母只在喂食的时候相聚

When a parent tries to join her chick without calling it from the huddle, confusion reigns⁴.

如果成年企鹅试图加入到小企鹅的队伍中，而不是把它呼唤出来，就造成了混乱

The disturbed chicks immediately latch⁵ on to any adult that passes.

被挤散的小企鹅见到身边有成年企鹅就迅速躲到其身下

Getting anywhere becomes almost impossible.

让成年企鹅行动艰难

As the parents' patience runs out, the chicks are forced to toughen up.

成年企鹅渐渐失去了耐心，小企鹅们只能学着坚强

Chicks, used to being doted on, find it hard being left alone.

小企鹅习惯了被宠爱，独立生存对它们来说非常不易

But like a mother leaving her child at school, it's best not to make a fuss.

但是这就像是妈妈送孩子到学校一样，最好还是不要吵吵闹闹，小题大做

As Mum leaves for the sea, the chick tries to follow.

企鹅妈妈要出海捕鱼了，小企鹅依依不舍的在后面跟着

But his mother doesn't look back.

但是企鹅妈妈绝不回头

More parents leave, but the chicks won't cross an invisible boundary.

越来越多的成年企鹅离开了，而小企鹅是不会越过那条无形界限的

From now on, they'll only see their parents when they return with food.

从现在开始，它们要想再见到父母，就只能等它们捕食归来了

The few parents left behind are the nearest they have to childminders.

它们只好向少部分留下来的成年企鹅寻求照顾

But they won't receive the same tender care they've been used to.

但已经享受不到过去那种无微不至的关爱了

1 cormorants   

鸬鹚，贪婪的人( cormorant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The birds are trained cormorants. 那些鸟是受过训练的鸬鹚。
• The cormorants swim down and catch the fish, and bring them back the raft. 鸬鹚又下去捉住鱼，再返回竹筏。

2 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 huddle   

vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人

参考例句：

• They like living in a huddle.他们喜欢杂居在一起。
• The cold wind made the boy huddle inside his coat.寒风使这个男孩卷缩在他的外衣里。

4 reigns   

n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期

参考例句：

• In these valleys night reigns. 夜色笼罩着那些山谷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The Queen of Britain reigns, but she does not rule or govern. 英国女王是国家元首，但不治国事。 来自辞典例句

5 latch   

n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁

参考例句：

• She laid her hand on the latch of the door.她把手放在门闩上。
• The repairman installed an iron latch on the door.修理工在门上安了铁门闩。