2007-09-20, Puffin Lifecycle-角嘴海雀
时间：2018-12-30 作者：英语课 分类：国家地理2007年
英语课
We are here on Seal Island, off the coast of Maine, to observe the heroic track of one baby puffin to the sea. In order to do that, we'll have to use special infrared 1 video because the track will begin at night. Just because this young puffin is making its track alone, that doesn't mean it has neglectful parents. Haha, far from it.
Puffin parents come to this colony in the spring and summer to breed and nest. During the nesting season, the puffin's bill takes on vivid colors of red, blue grey, and ivory. They use these bills for what's called "gaping 2" threatening each other with harm without actually fighting. They also use them for what's called “billing”, a show of affection.
Puffins lay one egg per year which is incubated in turn by each adult for 39 to 43 days. When the egg hatches, the parents gather food, and bring it back to the baby for another 45 days.
Only after all that TLC, does the baby feel prepared to trust his instinct to make its way to the ocean. It's hard to believe this bird will soon be able to fly at speeds up to 55 miles an hour with wings beating over 400 times a minute.
Once our brave young puffin hits the water, it will stay at sea for 2 to 3 years, protecting itself from natural hazards like storms and predators 3 and man-made hazards like oil spills and nets of fishing trawlers. Even though our young puffin has to walk through rocky crags and craggy rocks, it has instinctively 4 found its new home in the Atlantic Ocean. In a couple of years, it may be back here ready to mate, and of course, to be admired by thousands of tourists who adore this odd-looking but loveable seabird.
Puffin parents come to this colony in the spring and summer to breed and nest. During the nesting season, the puffin's bill takes on vivid colors of red, blue grey, and ivory. They use these bills for what's called "gaping 2" threatening each other with harm without actually fighting. They also use them for what's called “billing”, a show of affection.
Puffins lay one egg per year which is incubated in turn by each adult for 39 to 43 days. When the egg hatches, the parents gather food, and bring it back to the baby for another 45 days.
Only after all that TLC, does the baby feel prepared to trust his instinct to make its way to the ocean. It's hard to believe this bird will soon be able to fly at speeds up to 55 miles an hour with wings beating over 400 times a minute.
Once our brave young puffin hits the water, it will stay at sea for 2 to 3 years, protecting itself from natural hazards like storms and predators 3 and man-made hazards like oil spills and nets of fishing trawlers. Even though our young puffin has to walk through rocky crags and craggy rocks, it has instinctively 4 found its new home in the Atlantic Ocean. In a couple of years, it may be back here ready to mate, and of course, to be admired by thousands of tourists who adore this odd-looking but loveable seabird.
adj./n.红外线(的)
- Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。
- Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。
adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大
- Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。
- The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）
- birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
- The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》
adv.本能地
- As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》