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Survival here, as in all deserts, is on a knife edge.
在沙漠中生存，生命如履薄冰。
So desert dwellers have had to evolve in remarkable ways.
因此，沙漠的居民必须以非凡的方式进化。
Some have even given rise to legends of dragons and unicorns.
其中有些生物成了龙与独角兽传说的源头。
And even the dunes have their own magical quality.
甚至贫瘠的沙丘也有其独到的特质。
Indeed some have their own voice.
事实上，有些沙丘能发出属于自己的声音。
Here in Arabia, this extraordinary sound is created by billions of moving sand grains vibrating against one another.
在阿拉伯半岛，这种非同寻常的声音是由数十亿沙粒相互振动而产生的。
The eerie song they produce can be heard for miles across the world's biggest sand desert.
在这片世界上最大的沙漠中，这种诡异的旋律可以传到数里以外。
Winds have also built sand into surreal shapes.
风也将沙子吹成了各种离奇的形状。
Deserts around the world can appear so alien, that they seem to belong to another planet altogether.
世界各地如此奇异的沙漠几乎如同外星世界。
Few more so than here in Australia.
其中最奇异的当属澳大利亚的这片沙漠。
Yet one little creature chooses this desert to prepare for a most important event in its life.
然而仍有一个小家伙选择了这里，来为它生命中最重要的环节做准备。
A male spotted bowerbird. For the last two months, he has been busy in anticipation of brief rains.
一只雄性斑大亭鸟。在过去的两个月里，它一直在等待短暂降雨。
That is when females will look for a mate.
只有那时，雌鸟才会寻找配偶。
So he's built a bower, a sort of theatre, a stage on which he will dance with a female, if she is willing.
为此雄鸟搭建了一个亭台，类似一种剧院，如果雌鸟愿意，它们将在这个舞台上共舞。
He decorates the entrance with piles of empty snail shells and bones. How could any female resist?
雄鸟用成堆的蜗牛壳和骨头点缀舞台入口。没有雌性能拒绝这一切。
The rains are due any day, so it's his last chance for improvements.
随时都有可能下雨，所以这是雄鸟改善装潢的最后机会。
You can never have too many shells.
蜗牛壳永远都不嫌多。
But in his absence... a rival male drops by, to size up the competition... and cause trouble.
但当它离开的时候，一只竞争对手来到此处，评估一下彼此的优劣，再搞点破坏。
Wreck your neighbour's bower and your own might look better.
破坏对手的舞台，就等于完善自己的舞台。
And perhaps one of the best bits would look good in his bower.
再顺走点儿好看的装饰物。
The owner is back. And something isn't right. Repairs are needed.
主人回来了。有点儿不对劲。抓紧时间修缮。
Still no sign of rain or females. Undeterred, he continues his preparations.
依然没有雨水或是雌鸟的影子。但它没有气馁，而是继续准备。
Time to rehearse his courtship display. But sadly he may only ever dance alone.
是时候排练求爱表演了。然而遗憾的是，这只雄鸟也许永远只能独舞。
For the last three years, the rains have failed. Without them, the females won't mate.
在过去的三年里，这里没有下过一场雨。而没有雨，雌鸟便不会寻找配偶。
They need the rains to provide food for their family.
成立一个家庭需要雨水来提供食物。
