鸟类飞抵中国最大淡水湖过冬

As the cold sets in in northern China, thousands of migratory birds have moved to their winter resort. Many cranes and swans have returned to the Poyang Lake in Jiangxi province. But his winter their living conditions have worsened.
随着中国北方开始变冷，数千只候鸟飞往它们的过冬胜地。许多鹤和天鹅已经回到江西省的鄱阳湖。但是这个冬天他们的居住环境恶化了。

Exhausted by the long journey, these birds can finally rest their wings in China’s largest freshwater lake.
长途劳累之后，这些鸟终于在这个中国最大的淡水湖停下来休息。

But it’s not only mother nature who has been preparing for their arrival.
但是并不是只有大自然母亲为它们的到来做好准备。

30 white cranes and 16 swans.
30只白鹤和16只天鹅。

It’s 7am, and Wu Xudong has started working with his team at Poyang Lake Bird Protection Area to prepare for the migratory birds arrival.
现在是早上7点钟，Wu Xudong和他的团队开始在鄱阳湖候鸟保护区为候鸟的到来做准备。

Having worked at the lake for 16 years, he is very familiar with the local eco-system. This year, he is mostly worried about the birds.
他在这个湖工作了16年，非常熟悉当地的生态系统。今年，他很为这些候鸟担心。

Droughts have hit the area badly, shrinking the lake to less than half its size. Wu and his team are watching closely for changes in the water level.
干旱沉重地打击了这个地区，将湖的面积缩小到不到一半。吴和他的团队正在密切观察水位的变化。

Wu said, "We used to dry out the lake a bit so the birds could feed on the mudflat. But this winter, there is no need, or else the lake would disappear. "
吴表示：“过去，我们常常使湖变干一点，以便让这些鸟可以在泥滩上觅食。但是这个冬天，没有必要了，否则湖会消失的。”

The Bird Protection Area is home to many rare birds, like the white crane and swan goose. Their population has been growing due to suitable environments. But as the water level decreases, the area is forced to make a back-up plan for feeding.
候鸟保护区是白鹤和天鹅等许多珍稀鸟类的家园。由于环境适宜，它们种群壮大了。但是随着水位的下降，这个地区被迫制定饲养的后备计划。

Wu said, "We’ll pump water from surrounding rivers into the lake. Meanwhile, we’ll put fish into the lake for the birds to feed on, and we may use planes to help on that."
吴表示：“我们会从附近河流抽水到湖里。同时，我们还将鱼放到湖中给鸟食用，我们可能用飞机来帮忙。”

Birds protectors now have to walk 70-80 kilometers everyday to records the birds’ conditions as well as the water level. It’s hard work, but the pay off is seen in the number of birds that come back each year.
鸟类保护者现在每天得走七八十公里来记录候鸟的情况和水位。虽然这是辛苦的工作，但是可以在每年回来的候鸟的数量中看到回报。