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But the summer here is one of the shortest on the planet, and all of the tundra's residents are now racing to breed.
然而此地的夏天是地球上最短的，冻原的所有住民现在都要赶忙繁殖。
Alaskan snowy owls have a brood of six fluffy chicks, and only eight weeks in which to raise them.
阿拉斯加雪鸮有一窝六只毛茸茸的幼鸟，却只有八个星期能够养育它们。
The parents provide them with 30 lemmings a day...
父母每天会提供它们三十只旅鼠...
For the chicks will need to triple their weight before they reach independence.
因为幼鸟需要增加三倍体重才能独立自主。
Unusually for an owl, snowies hunt by day.
在猫头鹰界算是少见，雪鸮都在白天狩猎。
And over the next two weeks, they take full advantage of the arctic's continuous light.
在接下来两个星期，它们会彻底利用北极持续不断的日光。
But this morning, the female returns to an empty nest.
可是今天早上，雌鸟返巢后，却发现巢内空空如也。
Her chicks are nowhere to be seen. They're hiding.
它的幼鸟都不见踪影。它们躲了起来。
They're so big, the whole group might be spotted by predators, so they have scattered across the tundra.
它们已经长大，整群幼鸟可能会被掠食者发现，因此就在冻原四处散开。
But that makes feeding them all much harder work.
但这也使得喂饱大家变得更加辛苦。
Over 600 meals later, the parents' labours are starting to pay off... as the chicks stretch their newly developed wings.
在吃过六百餐之后，父母的辛劳渐渐有了回报，幼鸟张开了才刚发育出来的翅膀。
Just a month is left before winter returns.
只剩下一个月，冬天就要回归。
Two weeks more, and their transformation is almost complete.
再过两个星期，它们的变身过程即将完成。
The chicks' wings might at last be able to do more than just lift them from the ground.
幼鸟的翅膀或许终于能够让它们不只是从地面抬升。
Getting there! Keep going! Airborne!
快成功了！继续努力！升空！
The youngsters are ready for independence.
幼鸟已经准备好自食其力。
And the exhausted parents can take a well-earned rest.
精疲力尽的父母总算能得到应有的休息。
