Ospreys: First breeding pair in Ireland for centuries 200 年來首對魚鷹在愛爾蘭繁殖

有證據表明，200 多年來，魚鷹首次在愛爾蘭繁殖。動物保護機構 “阿爾斯特野生動物（Ulster Wildlife）” 稱，魚鷹雛鳥的發現地位於愛爾蘭弗馬納郡的一個不對外公開的巢址。

This is not the first local sighting of ospreys – soaring birds of prey with long hazel-flecked wings, white feather crowns and distinctive eye stripes. But the presence of at least two osprey chicks has raised hopes that these raptors can establish a permanent colony in Ireland.

這並不是人們第一次在愛爾蘭當地目擊魚鷹，魚鷹是一種飛禽，纖長的翅膀上有淡褐色斑點，頭頂有白色羽冠，眼周有獨特的條紋。人們至少看到瞭兩隻魚鷹雛鳥，也正是它們的出現讓人們相信這些猛禽有望在愛爾蘭代代繁衍。

This successful breeding makes them the first known wild osprey chicks on the island of Ireland in modern times. Conservation group Ulster Wildlife are keeping the nest site confidential to protect them.

雛鳥的成功出生意味著它們是現今愛爾蘭島上第一對已知存在的野生魚鷹雛鳥。動物保護機構 “阿爾斯特野生動物” 為瞭保護它們，對築巢地點保密。

Over their lifespan of 15 to 20 years, these migratory birds can rack up more than 160,000 miles of travel, but they always return to the same area every year.

在魚鷹 15 至 20 年的生命中，這些候鳥可飛行 16 萬英裡的距離，但它們每年都會返回同一地區進行繁殖。

Giles Knight, the environmental farming scheme adviser who found them said it was a rub-your-eyes, once-in-a-lifetime moment.

發現魚鷹雛鳥的環境農業計劃顧問賈爾斯·奈特說，能夠親眼看到它們是一個不可思議、千載難逢的時刻。

Osprey populations were threatened in parts of North America in the 50s and 60s due to the use of pesticides and chemicals like DDT, which thin their eggshells and killed many birds.

上世紀五六十年代，北美部分地區的魚鷹種群的數量受到瞭威脅，原因是滴滴涕等殺蟲劑和化學品的使用，使魚鷹蛋的蛋殼變薄，並導致許多魚鷹死亡。

But after these substances were banned, most osprey populations were able to recover. The birds were thought to have become extinct as a breeding bird in Ireland in the late 18th Century due to human impacts.

但在這些化學物質被禁用後，大多數魚鷹種群得以恢復生機。人們普遍認為，由於人類活動的影響，早在18世紀末，魚鷹作為一種繁殖鳥類就已經在愛爾蘭滅絕瞭。

Scientists say their return indicates a healthy wetland ecosystem with plenty of fish like pike, perch, and trout to sustain what could be a new dynasty of ospreys.

科學傢們表示，魚鷹能回歸此地表明瞭這裡的濕地生態系統健康，並且有大量的梭子魚、鱸魚和鱒魚等魚類供魚鷹在這裡開啟繁衍生息的新篇章。

詞匯表

sighting 看到（罕見的人或物）
soaring 展翅翱翔的，飛翔的
birds of prey 猛禽
crowns 頭頂
stripes 條紋
raptors 猛禽
colony 種群聚集地
breeding 繁殖
chicks 雛鳥
nest site 巢址
migratory birds 候鳥
rub-your-eyes “需要揉眼睛般” 不可思議的
once-in-a-lifetime 千載難逢的
eggshells 蛋殼
wetland ecosystem 濕地生態系統