Like ballet dancers they pirouette on one leg, raising graceful shimmering pink wings ... a cloud of pink on a blue lake. laɪk bæˈleɪ ˈdænsərz ðeɪ ˌpɪruˈɛ ɑn wʌn lɛg, ˈreɪzɪŋ ˈgreɪsfəl ˈʃɪmərɪŋ pɪŋk wɪŋz ə klaʊd ʌv pɪŋk ɑn ə blu leɪk. 他们像芭蕾舞演员一样单腿旋转，扬起优雅的闪闪发光的粉红色翅膀……蓝色湖面上的一朵粉红色云朵。 Flamingos are the 'beauty queens' of the bird world. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr ðə 'ˈbjuti kwinz' ʌv ðə bərd wərld. 火烈鸟是鸟类世界的“选美皇后”。 The word 'flamingo' comes from the Spanish word 'flamenco' which means fire. ðə wərd 'fləˈmɪŋgoʊ' kʌmz frʌm ðə ˈspænɪʃ wərd 'fləˈmɛŋˌkoʊ' wɪʧ minz faɪər. “火烈鸟”这个词来自西班牙语“flamenco”，意思是火。 It refers to the bright colour of the flamingo's feathers. ɪt rəˈfərz tu ðə braɪt ˈkʌlər ʌv ðə flamingo's* ˈfɛðərz. 它指的是火烈鸟羽毛的鲜艳颜色。 Flamenco is also the name of a famous dance from Spain, a country in Europe. fləˈmɛŋˌkoʊ ɪz ˈɔlsoʊ ðə neɪm ʌv ə ˈfeɪməs dæns frʌm speɪn, ə ˈkʌntri ɪn ˈjʊrəp. 弗拉门戈也是来自欧洲国家西班牙的一种著名舞蹈的名称。 Some people believe that the flamenco dance was so named as the dancers imitated the movements of the flamingo. sʌm ˈpipəl bɪˈliv ðæt ðə fləˈmɛŋˌkoʊ dæns wɑz soʊ neɪmd æz ðə ˈdænsərz ˈɪməˌteɪtɪd ðə ˈmuvmənts ʌv ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ. 有人认为，弗拉门戈舞因舞者模仿火烈鸟的动作而得名。 Pirouette: a fast turn using the tip or heel of the feet Shimmering: shining ˌpɪruˈɛ: ə fæst tərn ˈjuzɪŋ ðə tɪp ɔr hil ʌv ðə fit ˈʃɪmərɪŋ: ˈʃaɪnɪŋ Pirouette：使用脚尖或脚后跟快速转身 Shimmering：闪亮 When you think of flamingos, you always remember their beautiful pink colour. wɛn ju θɪŋk ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊz, ju ˈɔlˌweɪz rɪˈmɛmbər ðɛr ˈbjutəfəl pɪŋk ˈkʌlər. 当您想到火烈鸟时，您总会想起它们美丽的粉红色。 Amazingly, the birds get this colour from the food they eat! əˈmeɪzɪŋli, ðə bərdz gɛt ðɪs ˈkʌlər frʌm ðə fud ðeɪ it! 令人惊讶的是，鸟类从它们吃的食物中获得了这种颜色！ Flamingos eat organisms such as plankton, shrimps, crabs and tiny water plants. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz it ˈɔrgəˌnɪzəmz sʌʧ æz ˈplæŋktən, shrimps*, kræbz ənd ˈtaɪni ˈwɔtər plænts. 火烈鸟吃浮游生物、虾、蟹和小型水生植物等生物。 All of these have special colouring agents which cause a flamingo to turn pink when it eats them. ɔl ʌv ðiz hæv ˈspɛʃəl ˈkʌlərˌrɪŋ ˈeɪʤənts wɪʧ kɑz ə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ tu tərn pɪŋk wɛn ɪt its ðɛm. 所有这些都有特殊的着色剂，当火烈鸟吃掉它们时会变成粉红色。 If you take a flamingo away from its natural habitat and don't feed it these kinds of food, their colour will turn whiter and whiter as days pass by. ɪf ju teɪk ə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ əˈweɪ frʌm ɪts ˈnæʧərəl ˈhæbəˌtæt ənd doʊnt fid ɪt ðiz kaɪndz ʌv fud, ðɛr ˈkʌlər wɪl tərn ˈwaɪtər ənd ˈwaɪtər æz deɪz pæs baɪ. 如果你把火烈鸟带离它的自然栖息地，不给它喂这些食物，它们的颜色会随着时间的推移变得越来越白。 Flamingos are water birds - they live and feed near the sea coast and lakes as the food they eat is found in water. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr ˈwɔtər bərdz ðeɪ laɪv ənd fid nɪr ðə si koʊst ənd leɪks æz ðə fud ðeɪ it ɪz faʊnd ɪn ˈwɔtər. 火烈鸟是水鸟 - 它们在海岸和湖泊附近生活和觅食，因为它们吃的食物都在水中。 They are quite tall - some of them can grow up to a height of 1.5 metres. ðeɪ ɑr kwaɪt tɔl sʌm ʌv ðɛm kæn groʊ ʌp tu ə haɪt ʌv 1.5* ˈmitərz. 它们很高——有些可以长到 1.5 米高。 That is almost as tall as a human! ðæt ɪz ˈɔlˌmoʊst æz tɔl æz ə ˈhjumən! 那几乎和人一样高！ These birds have very long legs so they can walk far into the water. ðiz bərdz hæv ˈvɛri lɔŋ lɛgz soʊ ðeɪ kæn wɔk fɑr ˈɪntu ðə ˈwɔtər. 这些鸟的腿很长，所以它们可以走到很远的水里。 Although most photos will show you pictures of flamingos wading in the shallow water, these birds can also swim! ˌɔlˈðoʊ moʊst ˈfoʊˌtoʊz wɪl ʃoʊ ju ˈpɪkʧərz ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ˈweɪdɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈʃæloʊ ˈwɔtər, ðiz bərdz kæn ˈɔlsoʊ swɪm! 虽然大多数照片会向您展示火烈鸟在浅水区涉水的照片，但这些鸟也会游泳！ Like other water birds such as ducks, flamingos have webbed feet. laɪk ˈʌðər ˈwɔtər bərdz sʌʧ æz dʌks, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz hæv wɛbd fit. 与鸭子等其他水鸟一样，火烈鸟的脚也有蹼。 Webbed feet help birds push water back and swim across a water body wɛbd fit hɛlp bərdz pʊʃ ˈwɔtər bæk ənd swɪm əˈkrɔs ə ˈwɔtər ˈbɑdi 蹼足帮助鸟类将水推回并游过水体 They are also powerful fliers and can fly at speeds of more than 50 kilometres an hour - that's the speed at which cars move on roads. ðeɪ ɑr ˈɔlsoʊ ˈpaʊərfəl flaɪərz ənd kæn flaɪ æt spidz ʌv mɔr ðæn 50 ˌkɪˈlɔˌmətərz æn aʊər ðæts ðə spid æt wɪʧ kɑrz muv ɑn roʊdz. 它们也是强大的飞行者，可以以每小时 50 多公里的速度飞行——这是汽车在道路上行驶的速度。 They can travel over long distances and even cover the distance of nearly 500 kilometres at one time - that's more than the distance between Delhi and Lucknow! ðeɪ kæn ˈtrævəl ˈoʊvər lɔŋ ˈdɪstənsəz ənd ˈivɪn ˈkʌvər ðə ˈdɪstəns ʌv ˈnɪrli 500 ˌkɪˈlɔˌmətərz æt wʌn taɪm ðæts mɔr ðæn ðə ˈdɪstəns bɪtˈwin ˈdɛli ənd lucknow*! 他们可以长途跋涉，一次甚至可以穿越近500公里的距离——这比德里和勒克瑙之间的距离还多！ Watching a flock take off is an amazing sight - like an airplane, they need to pick up speed by running before they can lift off. ˈwɑʧɪŋ ə flɑk teɪk ɔf ɪz æn əˈmeɪzɪŋ saɪt laɪk æn ˈɛrˌpleɪn, ðeɪ nid tu pɪk ʌp spid baɪ ˈrʌnɪŋ bɪˈfɔr ðeɪ kæn lɪft ɔf. 看着一群人起飞是一种惊人的景象 - 就像飞机一样，他们需要通过奔跑来加快速度才能起飞。 They run, flapping their wings before gracefully lifting off into the sky. ðeɪ rʌn, ˈflæpɪŋ ðɛr wɪŋz bɪˈfɔr ˈgreɪsfəli ˈlɪftɪŋ ɔf ˈɪntu ðə skaɪ. 他们奔跑着，拍打着翅膀，然后优雅地升空。 What makes the flamingo stand out? wʌt meɪks ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ stænd aʊt? 是什么让火烈鸟脱颖而出？ Other than its pink colour, one of the things that make the flamingo so different from other birds is its long, long neck! ˈʌðər ðæn ɪts pɪŋk ˈkʌlər, wʌn ʌv ðə θɪŋz ðæt meɪk ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ soʊ ˈdɪfərənt frʌm ˈʌðər bərdz ɪz ɪts lɔŋ, lɔŋ nɛk! 除了它的粉红色外，火烈鸟与其他鸟类如此不同的其中一件事就是它的长长的脖子！ The flamingo's neck is made up of 19 bones! ðə flamingo's* nɛk ɪz meɪd ʌp ʌv 19 boʊnz! 火烈鸟的脖子由19块骨头组成！ The long neck is extremely useful in helping the flamingo fish for its food - it's almost like having an extra- long fishing rod. ðə lɔŋ nɛk ɪz ɪkˈstrimli ˈjusfəl ɪn ˈhɛlpɪŋ ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ fɪʃ fɔr ɪts fud ɪts ˈɔlˌmoʊst laɪk ˈhævɪŋ æn ˈɛkstrə- lɔŋ ˈfɪʃɪŋ rɑd. 长长的脖子在帮助火烈鸟觅食方面非常有用——这几乎就像有一根超长的钓鱼竿。 The lifespan of a bird is connected to its size - the bigger it is, the longer it lives. ðə ˈlaɪfˌspæn ʌv ə bərd ɪz kəˈnɛktɪd tu ɪts saɪz ðə ˈbɪgər ɪt ɪz, ðə ˈlɔŋgər ɪt lɪvz. 鸟的寿命与其体型有关——体型越大，寿命越长。 Given how big they are, it is not surprising that flamingos live quite long. ˈgɪvən haʊ bɪg ðeɪ ɑr, ɪt ɪz nɑt sərˈpraɪzɪŋ ðæt fləˈmɪŋgoʊz laɪv kwaɪt lɔŋ. 鉴于它们有多大，火烈鸟的寿命很长也就不足为奇了。 Flamingos usually live for 20-30 years. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ˈjuʒəwəli laɪv fɔr 20-30* jɪrz. 火烈鸟通常能活 20-30 年。 The Greater Flamingo lives the longest, up to 30-33 years. ðə ˈgreɪtər fləˈmɪŋgoʊ lɪvz ðə ˈlɔŋgəst, ʌp tu 30-33* jɪrz. 大火烈鸟寿命最长，可达30-33岁。 Among birds, flamingos have one of the longest lifespans. əˈmʌŋ bərdz, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz hæv wʌn ʌv ðə ˈlɔŋgəst ˈlaɪfˌspænz. 在鸟类中，火烈鸟是寿命最长的鸟类之一。 Lifespan: The number of years for which a person or animal usually lives ˈlaɪfˌspæn: ðə ˈnʌmbər ʌv jɪrz fɔr wɪʧ ə ˈpərsən ɔr ˈænəməl ˈjuʒəwəli lɪvz 寿命：人或动物通常能活的年数 There are just six kinds of flamingos in all, but they are found all over the world, from North and South America to Europe, Africa and Asia. ðɛr ɑr ʤʌst sɪks kaɪndz ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɪn ɔl, bʌt ðeɪ ɑr faʊnd ɔl ˈoʊvər ðə wərld, frʌm nɔrθ ənd saʊθ əˈmɛrɪkə tu ˈjʊrəp, ˈæfrɪkɑ ənd ˈeɪʒə. 火烈鸟总共只有六种，但它们遍布世界各地，从北美和南美到欧洲、非洲和亚洲。 Did you know? that the most endangered species of flamingo is the Andean flamingo - less than 30,000 of these birds are left in the world. dɪd ju noʊ? ðæt ðə moʊst ɛnˈdeɪnʤərd ˈspiʃiz ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊ ɪz ðə ˈændiən fləˈmɪŋgoʊ lɛs ðæn 30,000* ʌv ðiz bərdz ɑr lɛft ɪn ðə wərld. 你可知道？最濒危的火烈鸟物种是安第斯火烈鸟——世界上仅存不到 30,000 只。 Endangered: In danger of becoming extinct, when not even one of a certain kind of animal is left in the world ɛnˈdeɪnʤərd: ɪn ˈdeɪnʤər ʌv bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ɪkˈstɪŋkt, wɛn nɑt ˈivɪn wʌn ʌv ə ˈsərtən kaɪnd ʌv ˈænəməl ɪz lɛft ɪn ðə wərld 濒危：有灭绝的危险，当世界上连一种动物都没有留下时 In India, flamingos are found in many places across the country. ɪn ˈɪndiə, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr faʊnd ɪn ˈmɛni ˈpleɪsəz əˈkrɔs ðə ˈkʌntri. 在印度，火烈鸟遍布全国各地。 Large numbers are seen in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. lɑrʤ ˈnʌmbərz ɑr sin ɪn steɪts laɪk rajasthan*, ˌgjuʤərˈæt, odisha*, təˈmɪl nadu* ənd andhra* prəˈdɛʃ. 拉贾斯坦邦、古吉拉特邦、奥里萨邦、泰米尔纳德邦和安得拉邦等邦的人数众多。 In India we see two kinds of flamingos - the Greater Flamingo and the Lesser Flamingo. ɪn ˈɪndiə wi si tu kaɪndz ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ðə ˈgreɪtər fləˈmɪŋgoʊ ənd ðə ˈlɛsər fləˈmɪŋgoʊ. 在印度，我们看到两种火烈鸟——大火烈鸟和小火烈鸟。 As you may have guessed, the Greater Flamingo is bigger than its shorter cousin, the Lesser Flamingo. æz ju meɪ hæv gɛst, ðə ˈgreɪtər fləˈmɪŋgoʊ ɪz ˈbɪgər ðæn ɪts ˈʃɔrtər ˈkʌzən, ðə ˈlɛsər fləˈmɪŋgoʊ. 您可能已经猜到了，大火烈鸟比它的近亲小火烈鸟大。 Flamingos are often found in huge flocks of thousands of birds that look like carpets of pink flowers scattered over the surface of blue lakes and water bodies. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr ˈɔftən faʊnd ɪn hjuʤ flɑks ʌv ˈθaʊzəndz ʌv bərdz ðæt lʊk laɪk ˈkɑrpəts ʌv pɪŋk flaʊərz ˈskætərd ˈoʊvər ðə ˈsərfəs ʌv blu leɪks ənd ˈwɔtər ˈbɑdiz. 火烈鸟经常出现在成千上万只鸟群中，它们看起来就像散布在蓝色湖泊和水体表面的粉红色花朵地毯。 The largest flocks of flamingos are found in the lakes of East Africa - here, sometimes, more than a million gather at a time. ðə ˈlɑrʤəst flɑks ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr faʊnd ɪn ðə leɪks ʌv ist ˈæfrɪkɑ hir, səmˈtaɪmz, mɔr ðæn ə ˈmɪljən ˈgæðər æt ə taɪm. 东非的湖泊中发现了最大的火烈鸟群——有时，这里一次聚集的火烈鸟数量超过一百万。 Did you know? - that the flamingo is the state bird of Gujarat. dɪd ju noʊ? ðæt ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ ɪz ðə steɪt bərd ʌv ˌgjuʤərˈæt. 你可知道？ - 火烈鸟是古吉拉特邦的州鸟。 They are found in groups of thousands in the state. - a group of flamingos is called a flock or a colony. ðeɪ ɑr faʊnd ɪn grups ʌv ˈθaʊzəndz ɪn ðə steɪt. ə grup ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɪz kɔld ə flɑk ɔr ə ˈkɑləni. 他们在该州成群结队地被发现。 - 一群火烈鸟被称为羊群或群体。 Flamingos like to live in large groups as they feel safer that way. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz laɪk tu laɪv ɪn lɑrʤ grups æz ðeɪ fil ˈseɪfər ðæt weɪ. 火烈鸟喜欢群居，因为这样他们会觉得更安全。 When these birds hunt for food, they spend a lot of time with their heads in the water. wɛn ðiz bərdz hʌnt fɔr fud, ðeɪ spɛnd ə lɑt ʌv taɪm wɪð ðɛr hɛdz ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər. 当这些鸟儿觅食时，它们的头大部分时间都泡在水里。 So, it is useful to be part of a big group where there's always someone to alert you of danger nearby. soʊ, ɪt ɪz ˈjusfəl tu bi pɑrt ʌv ə bɪg grup wɛr ðɛrz ˈɔlˌweɪz ˈsʌmˌwən tu əˈlərt ju ʌv ˈdeɪnʤər ˈnɪrˈbaɪ. 因此，成为一个大团体的一员是很有用的，因为在这个团体中总有人会提醒您附近有危险。 This is a photograph of a flock of Lesser Famingos taken at Lake Bogoria in East Africa. ðɪs ɪz ə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf ʌv ə flɑk ʌv ˈlɛsər famingos* ˈteɪkən æt leɪk bogoria* ɪn ist ˈæfrɪkɑ. 这是在东非柏哥利亚湖拍摄的一群小火烈鸟的照片。 Lake Bogoria is a very unique kind of water body called a 'soda' lake. leɪk bogoria* ɪz ə ˈvɛri juˈnik kaɪnd ʌv ˈwɔtər ˈbɑdi kɔld ə 'ˈsoʊdə' leɪk. 柏哥利亚湖是一种非常独特的水体，称为“苏打”湖。 The water in soda lakes has a huge quantity of different kinds of salts mixed in it. ðə ˈwɔtər ɪn ˈsoʊdə leɪks hæz ə hjuʤ kˈwɑntəti ʌv ˈdɪfərənt kaɪndz ʌv sɔlts mɪkst ɪn ɪt. 苏打湖中的水混合了大量不同种类的盐类。 This keeps away many animals that need freshwater with less salt to drink - but for the flamingo, these soda lakes are like a five-star restaurant! ðɪs kips əˈweɪ ˈmɛni ˈænəməlz ðæt nid ˈfrɛʃˌwɔtər wɪð lɛs sɔlt tu drɪŋk bʌt fɔr ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ, ðiz ˈsoʊdə leɪks ɑr laɪk ə five-star* ˈrɛstərˌɑnt! 这让许多需要淡水和少盐饮用的动物望而却步——但对于火烈鸟来说，这些苏打湖就像一家五星级餐厅！ That's because, in these salt-rich lakes, a variety of plants grow in huge numbers. ðæts bɪˈkɔz, ɪn ðiz salt-rich* leɪks, ə vərˈaɪəti ʌv plænts groʊ ɪn hjuʤ ˈnʌmbərz. 那是因为，在这些富含盐分的湖泊中，大量生长着各种植物。 These plants are the favourite food of flamingos. ðiz plænts ɑr ðə ˈfeɪvərɪt fud ʌv fləˈmɪŋgoʊz. 这些植物是火烈鸟最喜欢的食物。 With no other competition for this food, flamingos flock to these lakes to eat the plants. wɪð noʊ ˈʌðər ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən fɔr ðɪs fud, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz flɑk tu ðiz leɪks tu it ðə plænts. 由于没有其他竞争者争夺这种食物，火烈鸟蜂拥而至这些湖泊吃这些植物。 The water of the soda lakes is almost like an 'alkali' - most animals also keep away as stepping into the water could burn their skin! ðə ˈwɔtər ʌv ðə ˈsoʊdə leɪks ɪz ˈɔlˌmoʊst laɪk æn 'ˈælkəˌlaɪ' moʊst ˈænəməlz ˈɔlsoʊ kip əˈweɪ æz ˈstɛpɪŋ ˈɪntu ðə ˈwɔtər kʊd bərn ðɛr skɪn! 苏打湖的水几乎就像一种“碱”——大多数动物也会远离，因为踏入水中可能会灼伤它们的皮肤！ Flamingos are one of the few kinds of animals that can safely step into a soda lake. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr wʌn ʌv ðə fju kaɪndz ʌv ˈænəməlz ðæt kæn ˈseɪfli stɛp ˈɪntu ə ˈsoʊdə leɪk. 火烈鸟是少数可以安全踏入苏打湖的动物之一。 No wonder they feel very safe here - when danger threatens, they can simply step deeper into the water. noʊ ˈwʌndər ðeɪ fil ˈvɛri seɪf hir wɛn ˈdeɪnʤər θˈrɛtənz, ðeɪ kæn ˈsɪmpli stɛp ˈdipər ˈɪntu ðə ˈwɔtər. 难怪他们在这里感到非常安全——当危险来临时，他们可以简单地踏入更深的水中。 Did you know? that the flamingo eats with its head upside down. dɪd ju noʊ? ðæt ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ its wɪð ɪts hɛd ˈʌpˈsaɪd daʊn. 你可知道？火烈鸟吃东西时头朝下。 One of the most unusual things about the flamingo is the way it eats - First the flamingo mixes up the water and mud nearby using its feet and beak. wʌn ʌv ðə moʊst ənˈjuˌʒuəl θɪŋz əˈbaʊt ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ ɪz ðə weɪ ɪt its fərst ðə fləˈmɪŋgoʊ ˈmɪksəz ʌp ðə ˈwɔtər ənd mʌd ˈnɪrˈbaɪ ˈjuzɪŋ ɪts fit ənd bik. 火烈鸟最不寻常的事情之一是它的进食方式——首先，火烈鸟用它的脚和喙将附近的水和泥混合在一起。 - It then dips its beak down and sometimes puts its entire head under water and scoops up a cup full of muddy water in its beak. ɪt ðɛn dɪps ɪts bik daʊn ənd səmˈtaɪmz pʊts ɪts ɪnˈtaɪər hɛd ˈʌndər ˈwɔtər ənd skups ʌp ə kʌp fʊl ʌv ˈmʌdi ˈwɔtər ɪn ɪts bik. - 然后它把它的喙向下蘸，有时把它的整个头都浸在水里，然后用它的喙舀起满满一杯泥水。 - The upside-down beak is then used like a sieve (like the steel strainer used to drain out tea leaves when making chai). ðə ˌəpˈsaɪˌdaʊn bik ɪz ðɛn juzd laɪk ə sɪv (laɪk ðə stil strainer* juzd tu dreɪn aʊt ti livz wɛn ˈmeɪkɪŋ ʧaɪ). - 然后像筛子一样使用倒置的喙（就像制作柴时用来沥干茶叶的钢制过滤器）。 Water drips out of the beak, leaving behind tiny plants and animals for the bird to munch on. ˈwɔtər drɪps aʊt ʌv ðə bik, ˈlivɪŋ bɪˈhaɪnd ˈtaɪni plænts ənd ˈænəməlz fɔr ðə bərd tu mʌnʧ ɑn. 水从喙中滴出，留下微小的植物和动物供鸟儿咀嚼。
When it is time to start a family, flamingos start 'putting on make-up' in order to make themselves look attractive to a partner. wɛn ɪt ɪz taɪm tu stɑrt ə ˈfæməli, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz stɑrt 'ˈpʌtɪŋ ɑn ˈmeɪˌkəp' ɪn ˈɔrdər tu meɪk ðɛmˈsɛlvz lʊk əˈtræktɪv tu ə ˈpɑrtnər. 到了组建家庭的时候，火烈鸟开始“化妆”，以使自己看起来对伴侣有吸引力。 Of course, they don't reach out for powder and lipstick. ʌv kɔrs, ðeɪ doʊnt riʧ aʊt fɔr ˈpaʊdər ənd ˈlɪpˌstɪk. 当然，他们不会伸手去拿粉饼和口红。 Instead, they spread the oil produced by a gland (a kind of body part) near their tails over their feathers, turning them a brighter pink. ˌɪnˈstɛd, ðeɪ sprɛd ðə ɔɪl prəˈdust baɪ ə glænd (ə kaɪnd ʌv ˈbɑdi pɑrt) nɪr ðɛr teɪlz ˈoʊvər ðɛr ˈfɛðərz, ˈtərnɪŋ ðɛm ə ˈbraɪtər pɪŋk. 相反，它们将尾巴附近的腺体（一种身体部位）产生的油涂抹在羽毛上，使它们变成更亮的粉红色。 Unlike other birds, flamingos do not lay eggs every year - they do so only when it rains. ənˈlaɪk ˈʌðər bərdz, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz du nɑt leɪ ɛgz ˈɛvəri jɪr ðeɪ du soʊ ˈoʊnli wɛn ɪt reɪnz. 与其他鸟类不同，火烈鸟并非每年都产卵——它们只在下雨时才产卵。 Rain gives them materials to build their nest. reɪn gɪvz ðɛm məˈtɪriəlz tu bɪld ðɛr nɛst. 雨水为它们提供了筑巢的材料。 Rainwater ponds and lakes are home to tiny water creatures that are the flamingo's food. ˈreɪnˌwɔtər pɑndz ənd leɪks ɑr hoʊm tu ˈtaɪni ˈwɔtər ˈkriʧərz ðæt ɑr ðə flamingo's* fud. 雨水池塘和湖泊是作为火烈鸟食物的微小水生生物的家园。 So rainfall is very important to mama birds and the always hungry chicks. soʊ ˈreɪnˌfɔl ɪz ˈvɛri ˌɪmˈpɔrtənt tu ˈmɑmə bərdz ənd ðə ˈɔlˌweɪz ˈhʌŋgri ʧɪks. 所以降雨对于鸟妈妈和总是饥饿的小鸡来说非常重要。 Since flamingos live in large colonies, depending on the rainfall, either the whole colony will be full of chicks, or there won't be any young bird at all. sɪns fləˈmɪŋgoʊz laɪv ɪn lɑrʤ ˈkɑləniz, dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɑn ðə ˈreɪnˌfɔl, ˈiðər ðə hoʊl ˈkɑləni wɪl bi fʊl ʌv ʧɪks, ɔr ðɛr woʊnt bi ˈɛni jʌŋ bərd æt ɔl. 由于火烈鸟生活在大群中，根据降雨情况，整个群体要么充满小鸟，要么根本没有小鸟。 Before the eggs can be laid, the nest has to be built. bɪˈfɔr ðə ɛgz kæn bi leɪd, ðə nɛst hæz tu bi bɪlt. 在下蛋之前，必须先筑巢。 Unlike birds that build nests made of twigs on trees, flamingos build their nests on the ground. ənˈlaɪk bərdz ðæt bɪld nɛsts meɪd ʌv twɪgz ɑn triz, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz bɪld ðɛr nɛsts ɑn ðə graʊnd. 与用树枝在树上筑巢的鸟类不同，火烈鸟在地面上筑巢。 They use sticks, stones and mud to create a mound that looks like a little volcano on the ground. ðeɪ jus stɪks, stoʊnz ənd mʌd tu kriˈeɪt ə maʊnd ðæt lʊks laɪk ə ˈlɪtəl vɑlˈkeɪnoʊ ɑn ðə graʊnd. 他们用木棍、石头和泥土在地面上堆起一个看起来像一座小火山的土丘。 The design of the nest is very clever really - the top of the mound dips like a saucer, so that the egg does not roll away. ðə dɪˈzaɪn ʌv ðə nɛst ɪz ˈvɛri ˈklɛvər ˈrɪli ðə tɑp ʌv ðə maʊnd dɪps laɪk ə ˈsɔsər, soʊ ðæt ðə ɛg dʌz nɑt roʊl əˈweɪ. 巢的设计真的很巧妙——土墩的顶部像碟子一样倾斜，这样蛋就不会滚走。
Flamingo eggs can be quite big. fləˈmɪŋgoʊ ɛgz kæn bi kwaɪt bɪg. 火烈鸟蛋可能很大。 So a female bird mostly lays only one egg. soʊ ə ˈfiˌmeɪl bərd ˈmoʊstli leɪz ˈoʊnli wʌn ɛg. 所以一只雌鸟大多只产一个蛋。 For almost a month, the parent birds take turns to keep the egg warm, by sitting on it. fɔr ˈɔlˌmoʊst ə mʌnθ, ðə ˈpɛrənt bərdz teɪk tərnz tu kip ðə ɛg wɔrm, baɪ ˈsɪtɪŋ ɑn ɪt. 在将近一个月的时间里，母鸟轮流坐在蛋上为蛋保温。 This is called incubation. ðɪs ɪz kɔld ˌɪŋkjuˈbeɪʃən. 这称为孵化。 At the end of this long wait, a young chick hatches out. æt ðə ɛnd ʌv ðɪs lɔŋ weɪt, ə jʌŋ ʧɪk ˈhæʧɪz aʊt. 在漫长的等待结束时，一只小鸡孵化出来了。 Surprise, surprise! sərˈpraɪz, sərˈpraɪz! 惊喜，惊喜！ The chick is not pink or red like its parents but grey and white. ðə ʧɪk ɪz nɑt pɪŋk ɔr rɛd laɪk ɪts ˈpɛrənts bʌt greɪ ənd waɪt. 小鸡不像它的父母那样是粉红色或红色，而是灰色和白色。 Young flamingos take three years to take on the pink-red colour. jʌŋ fləˈmɪŋgoʊz teɪk θri jɪrz tu teɪk ɑn ðə pink-red* ˈkʌlər. 年轻的火烈鸟需要三年时间才能呈现粉红色。 The real work for papa and mama begins after the young one hatches out of the egg. ðə ril wərk fɔr ˈpɑˌpə ənd ˈmɑmə bɪˈgɪnz ˈæftər ðə jʌŋ wʌn ˈhæʧɪz aʊt ʌv ðə ɛg. 爸爸妈妈真正的工作是在小家伙从蛋里孵化出来之后才开始的。 For a week or two, the baby bird stays in the nest and is fed a kind of milk that the parents make in their own bodies. fɔr ə wik ɔr tu, ðə ˈbeɪbi bərd steɪz ɪn ðə nɛst ənd ɪz fɛd ə kaɪnd ʌv mɪlk ðæt ðə ˈpɛrənts meɪk ɪn ðɛr oʊn ˈbɑdiz. 在一两周内，幼鸟会留在巢中，喂食父母亲自己制造的一种乳汁。 Then, the parents teach it to hunt for water creatures and the baby bird becomes more independent. ðɛn, ðə ˈpɛrənts tiʧ ɪt tu hʌnt fɔr ˈwɔtər ˈkriʧərz ənd ðə ˈbeɪbi bərd bɪˈkʌmz mɔr ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt. 然后，父母教它捕食水生动物，小鸟变得更加独立。 Were you wondering how parents recognise their babies in such big groups? wər ju ˈwʌndərɪŋ haʊ ˈpɛrənts ˈrɛkəgˌnaɪz ðɛr ˈbeɪbiz ɪn sʌʧ bɪg grups? 你想知道父母如何在这么大的群体中认出他们的孩子吗？ Well, it's through their voice. wɛl, ɪts θru ðɛr vɔɪs. 好吧，这是通过他们的声音。 Flamingos are noisy birds and talk a lot to each other by making grunting, honking (like a car horn) and even growling sounds. fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr ˈnɔɪzi bərdz ənd tɔk ə lɑt tu iʧ ˈʌðər baɪ ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈgrʌntɪŋ, ˈhɔŋkɪŋ (laɪk ə kɑr hɔrn) ənd ˈivɪn ˈgroʊlɪŋ saʊndz. 火烈鸟是吵闹的鸟类，它们通过发出咕噜声、喇叭声（如汽车喇叭）甚至咆哮声来互相交谈。 It's by calling out to each other that flocks stay together. ɪts baɪ ˈkɔlɪŋ aʊt tu iʧ ˈʌðər ðæt flɑks steɪ təˈgɛðər. 正是通过互相呼唤，羊群才能聚在一起。 Flamingos are water birds - so what is their role in this environment? fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr ˈwɔtər bərdz soʊ wʌt ɪz ðɛr roʊl ɪn ðɪs ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt? 火烈鸟是水鸟——那么它们在这种环境中的作用是什么？ These birds eat algae and small organisms in water bodies and thus prevent a wetland from becoming choked with algae. ðiz bərdz it ˈælʤi ənd smɔl ˈɔrgəˌnɪzəmz ɪn ˈwɔtər ˈbɑdiz ənd ðʌs prɪˈvɛnt ə ˈwɛˌtlænd frʌm bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ʧoʊkt wɪð ˈælʤi. 这些鸟类以水体中的藻类和小型生物为食，从而防止湿地被藻类淹没。
These birds are very popular with tourists who visit many areas of the world just to see them. ðiz bərdz ɑr ˈvɛri ˈpɑpjələr wɪð ˈtʊrəsts hu ˈvɪzɪt ˈmɛni ˈɛriəz ʌv ðə wərld ʤʌst tu si ðɛm. 这些鸟类非常受游客的欢迎，他们前往世界许多地区只是为了看它们。 Many people earn a living from these tourists by operating hotels, restaurants and driving around visitors. ˈmɛni ˈpipəl ərn ə ˈlɪvɪŋ frʌm ðiz ˈtʊrəsts baɪ ˈɑpərˌeɪtɪŋ hoʊˈtɛlz, ˈrɛstərˌɑnts ənd ˈdraɪvɪŋ əraʊnd ˈvɪzɪtərz. 许多人通过经营旅馆、餐馆和开车兜风来靠这些游客谋生。 So, flamingos help people earn a living in these areas. soʊ, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz hɛlp ˈpipəl ərn ə ˈlɪvɪŋ ɪn ðiz ˈɛriəz. 因此，火烈鸟帮助人们在这些地区谋生。
So, does this beautiful bird have natural enemies or predators? soʊ, dʌz ðɪs ˈbjutəfəl bərd hæv ˈnæʧərəl ˈɛnəmiz ɔr ˈprɛdətərz? 那么，这只美丽的鸟有天敌或天敌吗？ Because of where they live, in soda lakes and water bodies that have high alkali content, flamingos are generally well protected. bɪˈkɔz ʌv wɛr ðeɪ laɪv, ɪn ˈsoʊdə leɪks ənd ˈwɔtər ˈbɑdiz ðæt hæv haɪ ˈælkəˌlaɪ ˈkɑntɛnt, fləˈmɪŋgoʊz ɑr ˈʤɛnərəli wɛl prəˈtɛktɪd. 由于栖息地的关系，在碱度较高的苏打湖和水体中，火烈鸟一般都受到很好的保护。 Young birds may sometimes be hunted by eagles, hyenas and jackals. jʌŋ bərdz meɪ səmˈtaɪmz bi ˈhʌntəd baɪ ˈigəlz, haɪˈinəz ənd jackals*. 幼鸟有时可能会被鹰、鬣狗和豺猎杀。 But one of the biggest threats to these birds is us, humans. bʌt wʌn ʌv ðə ˈbɪgəst θrɛts tu ðiz bərdz ɪz ʌs, ˈhjumənz. 但这些鸟类面临的最大威胁之一是我们人类。 We don't hunt them for meat, but by building roads, farms, factories and towns near their habitats, we disturb the colonies and force them out of their homes. wi doʊnt hʌnt ðɛm fɔr mit, bʌt baɪ ˈbɪldɪŋ roʊdz, fɑrmz, ˈfæktəriz ənd taʊnz nɪr ðɛr ˈhæbəˌtæts, wi dɪˈstərb ðə ˈkɑləniz ənd fɔrs ðɛm aʊt ʌv ðɛr hoʊmz. 我们不是为了吃肉而猎杀它们，而是通过在它们的栖息地附近修建道路、农场、工厂和城镇，我们扰乱了群落并迫使它们离开家园。 This may affect the number of young ones born in a colony as flamingos may find it difficult to find other habitats that are as well suited to them. ðɪs meɪ əˈfɛkt ðə ˈnʌmbər ʌv jʌŋ wʌnz bɔrn ɪn ə ˈkɑləni æz fləˈmɪŋgoʊz meɪ faɪnd ɪt ˈdɪfəkəlt tu faɪnd ˈʌðər ˈhæbəˌtæts ðæt ɑr æz wɛl ˈsutəd tu ðɛm. 这可能会影响在一个群体中出生的幼崽数量，因为火烈鸟可能会发现很难找到其他同样适合它们的栖息地。 The sight of these delicate, pretty birds that look like living lotuses on water, is one of the most wonderful visions in the natural world. ðə saɪt ʌv ðiz ˈdɛləkət, ˈprɪti bərdz ðæt lʊk laɪk ˈlɪvɪŋ lotuses* ɑn ˈwɔtər, ɪz wʌn ʌv ðə moʊst ˈwʌndərfəl ˈvɪʒənz ɪn ðə ˈnæʧərəl wərld. 看到这些像水上活莲花一样娇嫩美丽的鸟儿，是自然界最美妙的景象之一。 Let's make sure that this is one vision that doesn't fade away but continues to be enjoyed in the years to come. lɛts meɪk ʃʊr ðæt ðɪs ɪz wʌn ˈvɪʒən ðæt ˈdʌzənt feɪd əˈweɪ bʌt kənˈtɪnjuz tu bi ˌɛnˈʤɔɪd ɪn ðə jɪrz tu kʌm. 让我们确保这是一个不会消失但会在未来几年继续享受的愿景。
Anita Mani: This book is 'for Maitreya, who opened my eyes skyward to the beauty of birds.' əˈnitə ˈmɑni: ðɪs bʊk ɪz 'fɔr maitreya*, hu ˈoʊpənd maɪ aɪz ˈskaɪwərd tu ðə ˈbjuti ʌv bərdz.' Anita Mani：这本书是“献给弥勒菩萨的，是他让我的眼睛看到了鸟儿的美丽。”
