纪录片《我们的地球》 第321期 极端沙漠(12)

The male snatches a drink, but he also needs to collect water for his chicks.

雄沙鸡抓紧时间喝了口水，但他还要给雏鸟们带水回去。

Using specially¹ adapted breast feathers, he can soak up water like a sponge.

他胸前特化的羽毛，可以像海绵一样吸收大量的水。

But it takes time, and he is in danger.

不过这需要时间，而他已身陷危险。

Goshawk. Sandgrouse here are their main prey².

苍鹰。沙鸡是他们的主要猎物。

Again and again, the male sandgrouse risk their lives in order to collect water for their chicks.

日复一日，雄沙鸡都要冒着生命危险来给雏鸟采水。

This is why sandgrouse nest so far from water holes.

这就是沙鸡巢离水坑如此远的原因。

At last, he's soaked up as much as he can.

终于，他吸足了水。

Carrying a quarter of his body weight in water, he can now set off on the long journey home.

带着自身体重四分之一的水，他开始漫长的归家旅程。

He's back, and just in time.

到家了，时间刚刚好。

He can give the chicks their first ever drink.

雏鸟可以喝上第一口水了。

But he will have to undertake this perilous³ journey every day for the next two months

但在未来两个月，他依然每天都要踏上这段危险的征程，

until his chicks can finally make the flight to the water hole for themselves.

直到雏鸟长大能独自飞到水坑。

1 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

2 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

3 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。