Condors Giant Birds

Condors, Giant Birds. Written by Charlotte Welton. Focus question, why are condors well suited to live in areas with elevated landforms?

神鹰，巨型鸟类。 夏洛特·韦尔顿 著。 探究问题：为什么神鹰十分适合生活在拥有高海拔地形的区域呢？

Meet the condor. Weighing over 30 pounds, 13 .5 kilograms, an enormous bird lifts off high in the majestic Andes Mountains of South America. Its powerful wings, measuring an amazing 10 .5 feet, 3 .2 meters across, propel the bird to a dizzying height of 15 ,000 feet, 4 ,600 meters. This is the largest flying bird in the world, the giant Andean condor. As it glides along, it uses its impressive wingspan an extra keen eyesight to search for food far below.

认识神鹰。 这只巨鸟体重超过30磅（13.5千克），它在南美洲雄伟的安第斯山脉上空展翅高飞。 它强劲的翅膀展开后宽达惊人的10.5英尺（3.2米），能带它飞到令人目眩的15000英尺（4600米）高空。 这就是世界上最大的飞禽——巨型安第斯神鹰。 它滑翔的时候，会利用宽大的翼展和敏锐的视力搜寻下方远处的食物。

Life on Wind and Rock Indian condors live in the western parts of South America, and California condors live in the American southwest. All condors need a wide -open habitat so that when they spot food, they have enough space to fly down with their huge wings and land. Condors also need sufficient wind currents to enable them to climb high and fly long distances. These birds can fly as far as 150 miles, 240 kilometers in one day to find food and may reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, 80 kilometers per hour.

风与岩石间的生活：安第斯神鹰生活在南美洲西部，加州神鹰生活在美国西南部。 所有神鹰都需要开阔的栖息地，这样当发现食物时，它们巨大的翅膀才有足够空间降落。 神鹰还需要充足的气流，来帮助它们飞上高空、长途飞行。 这些鸟类一天可以飞行最远150英里（240千米）觅食，最快时速可达50英里（80千米）。

Some condors live near the sea and perch high up on cliffs which provide an excellent view of the shoreline. Most condors, however, live in dry places where they can soar above rocky canyons, deserts, and mountains. Condors prefer to nest on elevated landforms. Lofty nests help keep condor eggs safe from potential predators on the ground. Condors don't use twigs and feathers to make an inviting, cozy nest. Instead, they nest directly on rocky cave floors or jagged outer ledges. Some California condors nest in large holes near the top of the world's tallest trees, the towering California redwoods.

有些神鹰住在海边，栖息在高高的悬崖上，在这里可以将海岸线一览无余。 不过大多数神鹰住在干燥地带，它们可以在岩石峡谷、沙漠和山脉上空翱翔。 神鹰更喜欢在高海拔地形筑巢。 高耸的巢穴可以保护神鹰的蛋，远离地面潜在捕食者的威胁。 神鹰不会用树枝和羽毛搭建舒适温暖的窝。 它们会直接在岩洞地面或是凹凸不平的悬崖外沿筑巢。 有些加州神鹰会在世界最高树木——高耸的加州红杉顶端附近的大树洞里筑巢。

A condor can devour up to four pounds, 1 .8 kilograms of food in one day and then go for days without eating. Condors have a special diet that you wouldn't find very tasty. They only eat carrion, dead and decaying animals. California condors eat small mammals such as rabbits and gophers. However, they prefer to eat larger mammals such as deer and cattle. Condors feeding near the ocean clean the beaches of all kinds of seafood, from small fish to huge whales that have washed ashore. Decomposing animals can be filled with harmful bacteria that can cause disease. Condors, though, have special digestive systems and are not in danger from bacteria. Condors play an important role in nature. They do an expert job of gobbling up rotting flesh and helping to keep ecosystems a little more germ -free.

一只神鹰一天最多能吃下4磅（1.8千克）食物，之后可以连续几天不进食。 神鹰的食谱十分特别，你肯定不会觉得好吃。 它们只吃腐肉，也就是死亡腐烂的动物尸体。 加州神鹰会吃兔子、囊地鼠这类小型哺乳动物。 不过它们更偏爱鹿和牛这类大型哺乳动物。 在海边觅食的神鹰会清理海滩上的各类动物尸体，从小鱼到被冲上岸的巨鲸都不放过。 腐烂的动物体内会充满致病的有害细菌。 不过神鹰拥有特殊的消化系统，不会受到细菌的侵害。 神鹰在自然界中扮演着重要的角色。 它们出色地清理掉腐烂的肉，帮助生态系统减少病菌。

Condors do not have a good sense of smell, but their excellent eyesight is an important tool when hunting for food. They can see their food from very high in the sky. Condors sometimes see other carrion -eating birds circling nearby, a sure sign that they've found food. This sight often leads to a condor's next meal. The condor will simply swoop in and eat the food that other birds have found.

神鹰的嗅觉并不灵敏，但出色的视力是它们觅食的重要工具。 它们在很高的天空就能发现食物。 神鹰有时会看到其他食腐鸟在附近盘旋，这肯定是那些鸟找到了食物。 这个迹象通常就能帮神鹰找到下一顿美餐。 神鹰只需要俯冲下来，享用其他鸟儿找到的食物就好了。