Text reads, “tvo kids + Fifth Ground Entertainment Original”

A kid says, WEE!

(Giggling)

A bee flies over dandelions in a field.

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators. TVOkids Presents”

Leo says,
IT'S ME, LEO!
THE EXPLORER CLUB
IS ON A NEW MISSION.
WE'RE HELPING THE POLLINATORS,
THOSE AMAZING CREATURES
WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.
POLLEN IS THE STUFF
THAT HELPS MAKE OUR FRUITS,
VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS.

A bee pollinates a pink flower.

Text reads, “‘Nator Navigator”

Leo continues,
WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS
FLYING, BUZZING,
SLITHERING AROUND,
WE'D ALL BE GOING HUNGRY,
EVEN ME!
HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE IN THE
FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE
A POLLINHEAD TOO.

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators Explorer Club”

Leo, a red and blue fish, swims at the bottom of a lake. A monitor at the bottom of the lake reads “Riddle”

Leo says,
LISTEN UP, POLLINHEADS!
I'VE GOT A RIDDLE FOR YOU.
WHO LOVES PINEAPPLE,
BANANAS, AND MANGOES?
IS A MASTER POLLINATOR,
FLYING UNDER THE COVER
OF DARKNESS?
AND IS A WORLD-FAMOUS
SUPERHERO?
THAT'S RIGHT, POLLINHEADS,
THE EGYPTIAN FRUIT BAT
IS AT THE TOP
OF THE 'NATOR NAVIGATOR.
ALL POLLINATORS
ARE SUPERHEROES,
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT,
BUT THE EGYPTIAN FRUIT BAT
IS KIND OF SPECIAL.
WHAT OTHER POLLINATORS DO YOU
KNOW THAT LOOK LIKE A FOX?
OH, LOOK AT THAT FACE!
BUT CUTENESS ISN'T THE ONLY
TRAIT OF THIS SUPERHERO.
THEY HAVE AN AMAZING SENSE
OF HEARING AND SMELL.
AND SPOILER ALERT!
THEY SEE WELL, TOO.
OUR HERO, THE EGYPTIAN FRUIT
BAT IS TRUE TO ITS NAME.
IT IS A FRUGIVORE -
THEY EAT MOSTLY FRUIT.
OH, AND A FEW FLOWERS!
SO, WHEN THEY'RE OUT SNACKING,
POLLEN GETS ALL OVER THOSE
CUTE FACES
AND HELPS SPREAD IT
TO THE NEXT FLOWER
THAT'S JUST WAITING TO BECOME
SOME DELICIOUS PIECE OF FRUIT.
OOH! FUN FACT:
70% OF THE FRUIT IN THE WORLD
IS POLLINATED BY BATS.

Niagara Falls, Ontario is marked on a map with an orange flag. A white flower is displayed on the flag.

Leo continues,
TODAY, THE POLLINHEADS ARE
MEETING UP WITH BAT SPECIALIST,
VERONICA JACKSON,
AT BIRD KINGDOM,
TO HELP WITH THE COLONY
IN HER CARE,
AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS
SUPERHERO POLLINATOR.
TO THE BAT CAVE!

A bat hangs upside down from a tree branch in an indoor enclosure.

Housten says,
AW. I JUST WANNA SQUEEZE 'EM!

Chloe points to another bat.

She adds, LOOK AT THAT ONE.

Text reads, “Veronica Jackson. Bird Kingdom, Animal Care Manager”

Veronica approaches Chloe and Housten in an underground pathway. She wears a blue t-shirt. Her long dark hair is parted to one side and falls over her shoulder.

Veronica says, HI, GUYS!

Chloe and Housten turn to Veronica. Chloe wears a pink hoodie and black pants. Her red hair is tied up in a ponytail. Housten wears a white and blue long-sleeved shirt with blue jeans. His curly dark hair is puffed up.

Chloe replies, HI!

Veronica adds,
I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU
GUYS HELP TODAY.

Housten responds,
WE'RE EXCITED TO HELP OUT,
BUT AREN'T THESE BATS A LONG
WAY FROM HOME?
DON'T THEY ACTUALLY
LIVE IN EGYPT?

Veronica answers,
THESE BATS ARE ACTUALLY PART
OF A SPECIAL SPECIES
SURVIVAL PROGRAM.
SO, US, AND OTHER ZOOS,
WORK TOGETHER
TO HELP KEEP THEIR POPULATION
STRONG.
SO, IF THEIR NUMBERS EVER START
TO DIP,
WE CAN HELP KEEP THEIR
POPULATIONS UP.

Chloe replies,
THAT'S GREAT NEWS FOR OUR
SUPERHERO POLLINATORS.

Housten adds,
AND GOOD NEWS FOR ME,
AS I LOVE PINEAPPLE!

Veronica says,
WELL, ABSOLUTELY, WITHOUT
OUR POLLINATING FRUIT BATS,
WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOSE TROPICAL
FRUITS LIKE MANGOES,
AND PINEAPPLES, AND BANANAS.
SO, OUR SUPERHERO POLLINATORS
ARE THE REASON
THAT WE GET TO EAT THOSE
SPECIAL FRUITS.
WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO GET TO TODAY.
ARE YOU GUYS READY TO GO?

Bats eat apples hanging from a rope hung from the ceiling of their dark enclosure.

Housten replies, LET'S FLY AT IT!

Veronica says, ALRIGHT, LET'S GO!

(Water splashes)

Chloe and Housten squeeze mango juice into a strainer in a kitchen.

Housten says,
I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE BATS
LIKED POPSICLES.

Veronica responds,
WELL, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY
WOULD NORMALLY GET IN THE
WILD, BUT HERE IN CAPTIVITY,
WE LIKE TO KEEP LIFE
INTERESTING, SO,
WE SQUEEZE SOME FRUIT
AND MAKE SOME POPSICLES.

Chloe asks,
DO THE BATS HAVE A FAVOURITE
FLAVOUR OF POPSICLE?

Veronica answers,
THEY DO! THEY LIKE TROPICAL
FRUITS,
SO MANGOES, PINEAPPLES,
BANANAS.
WHAT KIND ARE YOU GUYS GONNA
MAKE TODAY?

Housten responds,
I'M GONNA MAKE MY FAVOURITE -
PINEAPPLE. MMMM!

Chloe replies,
I'M GONNA MAKE MANGO.

Veronica says,
GOOD CALL.
I THINK THEY'RE GONNA LOVE IT.

(Chuckles)

Chloe squeezes more mango juice into the strainer. The juice is poured into empty orange rinds.

Later, Chloe and Housten approach Veronica in the kitchen. Various exotic fruits are lined up on a table.

Housten asks,
SO, WHAT'S NEXT ON THE MENU?

Veronica replies,
WELL, BEFORE WE MAKE SOME
MORE FOOD FOR THE BATS,
WE HAVE OTHER WAYS THAT WE KEEP
OUR COLONIES ENGAGED.
NEXT ON THE TO-DO LIST, WE'RE
GONNA MAKE SOME LIGHT BALLS.

Chloe asks,
LIGHT BALLS?
AREN'T BATS BLIND?

Text reads, “What’s the Buzz? With Leo”

Leo looks at images of bats on the monitors at the bottom of the lake.

Leo says,
OKAY, POLLINHEADS,
IT'S TIME TO SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT.
THAT OLD SAYING,
"BLIND AS A BAT"
COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG.
BATS HAVE GREAT EYESIGHT,
ESPECIALLY THE EGYPTIAN
FRUIT BATS.
EYES ARE MADE UP OF DIFFERENT
PARTS THAT ALLOW US
TO NOT ONLY SEE IMAGES,
BUT COLOUR.
AND THE EYES OF THESE
SUPERHERO POLLINATORS
ARE A LOT LIKE YOUR EYES.
THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE COLOUR,
BUT ONLY BLUE AND YELLOW.
THEY CAN'T SEE RED OR GREEN.
WHOA!
YOU MAY BE THINKING,
BUT WAIT, BATS ARE NOCTURNAL -
THEY SLEEP ALL DAY AND GO
ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AT NIGHT,
COLOUR WOULDN'T BE THAT
IMPORTANT TO THEM, RIGHT?
NOPE, UH-UH, AGAIN,
SO NOT TRUE!
THE EGYPTIAN FRUIT BATS ROOST,
YOU KNOW,
HANG OUT IN TREES
DURING THE DAY.
THEY ARE OFTEN AWAKE
CHANGING POSITIONS,
CHATTING WITH THEIR NEIGHBOURS,
AND YOUNG BATS OFTEN DO THEIR
FIRST FLIGHTS DURING THE DAY.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE
THAT FLASH OF A PREDATOR,
LIKE A HAWK COMING IN.
SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT,
ALL THE BUZZ ON THESE
POLLINATING SUPERHEROES.

Veronica lays decorative jars on a wooden table. Chloe grabs one.

Veronica says,
WE ARE GONNA MAKE SOME
ENRICHMENT FOR THE BATS.

Chloe replies, WHOA! COOL

Veronica adds,
CHLOE, I'M GONNA HAVE
YOU MAKE SOME
LIGHT ENRICHMENT FOR THEM.

Chloe replies, COOL!

Veronica continues,
AND HOUSTEN,
WE ARE GONNA MAKE SOME SCENT
ENRICHMENT FOR THEM.

Housten says, OKAY.

Veronica states,
ENRICHMENT IS HOW WE CHANGE
UP THEIR ENCLOSURES
TO HELP KEEP LIFE INTERESTING.

Chloe says,
AMAZING, GREAT SIGHT,
AND SMELL, TOO.
LEO WAS RIGHT,
THESE POLLINATING PALS
HAVE A LOT OF SUPERPOWERS.

Veronica responds,
THEY DEFINITELY DO!
I'VE WORKED WITH THESE FUZZY
GUYS FOR SIXTEEN YEARS,
AND I LOVE WORKING WITH THEM.

Housten asks,
DO THE BATS HAVE A FAVOURITE
SMELL?

Veronica answers,
WELL, THEY LIKE NUTMEG,
BUT THEY REALLY LOVE COFFEE.
BATS ACTUALLY HAVE SENSITIVE
NOSES.
THAT'S HOW THEY FIND THEIR
FRUIT IN THE WILD,
IS BY SMELLING IT,
AND THEY ACTUALLY REALLY
LIKE OVERRIPE FRUIT.

Housten asks,
YOU MEAN FRUIT THAT'S GONE BAD?

Veronica responds,
YEAH, KINDA LIKE IF YOU LEFT
YOUR STRAWBERRIES IN THE FRIDGE
FOR TOO LONG AND IT STARTED
TO TASTE VINEGARY.
BATS LOVE THAT THE NATURAL
SUGAR TURN IT INTO ALCOHOL,
AND THAT ACTUALLY HELPS THEM
COOL DOWN WHEN IT'S TOO HOT.

Housten says,
SMART! IT SEEMS PEOPLE
REALLY UNDERESTIMATE BATS.

Veronica replies,
THEY DO. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE
ASSOCIATE BATS WITH DISEASES,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID
OF THEM, BUT BATS ARE A HUGE
PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM.

Housten adds,
WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A GOOD
SMELL, AND NOW WE KNOW THAT
THEY'VE GOT A GOOD EYESIGHT,
TOO, BUT ISN'T ONE OF THEIR BEST
POLLINATING SUPERPOWERS HEARING?
DON'T THEY USE ECHOLOCATION?

Veronica responds,
WOW, YEAH, THEY DO!
BATS HAVE EXCELLENT HEARING.

A bat roosts on a branch.

Chloe places small colourful lights in three of the jars and places lids on top.

Text reads, “Did You Know?”

“Echolocation” is written on a chalkboard.

Chloe says,
DID YOU KNOW THAT
ECHOLOCATION IS A BIG WORD
THAT JUST MEANS BEING
ABLE TO JUDGE
HOW FAR AWAY SOMETHING IS
BY HEARING
HOW SOUNDS BOUNCES OFF OF IT,
AND BACK TO YOUR EARS?

(Bats squeak)

Chloe continues,
BATS MAKE HIGH-PITCHED SOUNDS
AS THEY FLY AROUND AT NIGHT, AS
A WAY TO FIND THEIR NEXT SNACK.
AS THE SOUND BOUNCES OFF THE
FRUIT OR FLOWERS IN THE AREA,
IT HELPS THEM TO KNOW
HOW FAR AWAY THE BUFFET IS.
BUT BATS AREN'T THE ONLY
ANIMALS WITH THIS SUPERPOWER.
DOLPHINS AND WHALES ALSO USE
ECHOLOCATION IN THE WATER.
HUMANS REALIZED THIS WAS AN
AWESOME WAY TO FIND THINGS -
WAY UP IN THE SKY,
OR DOWN IN THE OCEAN.
SO, WE CREATED OUR OWN VERSION
OF ECHOLOCATION,
AND WE CALL IT RADAR OR SONAR,
ALL INSPIRED BY OUR SUPERHERO
POLLINATORS.
NOW YOU KNOW.

Veronica carries the jars into the bat enclosure.

Housten says, LOOK AT THEM!

Chloe responds,
(Chuckles) I KNOW, THEY'RE SO CUTE.

Housten adds, I KNOW, RIGHT?

Veronica hangs light balls on branches in the enclosure.

Chloe says,
THE LIGHT BALLS ARE REALLY
BRIGHT.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THEM.

Housten replies,
THEY LOOK SO BRIGHT; IT LOOKS
LIKE THE SUN FROM HERE!

Chloe responds, YEAH.

Veronica hangs another colourful light ball while Housten and Chloe watch her in the enclosure.

Housten says, THAT BAT IS VERY BIG!

(Chuckles)

Veronica approaches Chloe and Housten.

She says,
ALRIGHT, GREAT JOB,
GUYS. SO, IT'S TIME TO HEAD
TO THE KITCHEN, WE GOT MORE
FOOD TO MAKE,
AND FRUIT SKEWERS ARE NEXT
ON THE MENU, SO LET'S GO!

Chloe replies, LET'S DO IT!

Housten responds,
VERONICA, WE'VE MADE
INTERESTING, YUMMY POPSICLES,
AND CREATED SOME FUN, SHINY
THINGS FOR THEM TO LOOK AT,
BUT IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN
DO THAT WOULD BE FUN
FOR THEM TO LISTEN TO?

Veronica looks deep in thought.

She says,
OOH, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA,
HOUSTEN.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

Chloe and Housten exchange glances as Veronica walks away from them.

Veronica returns with a headset and gives it to Housten. He puts it on.

Veronica says,
OKAY, HOUSTEN, I HAVE A
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FOR YOU.
SO, THAT'S GONNA GO
ON YOUR HEAD.
SO, BATS HAVE SENSITIVE EARS
SO WE ASK OUR VISITORS
TO BE QUIET AROUND THEIR
EXHIBIT,
BUT THIS BOX WILL TRANSMIT
RIGHT INTO THE EXHIBIT,
AND SO, YOU CAN ENTERTAIN THEM.
AND WE'RE GONNA GO FINISH UP
IN THE KITCHEN AND
WE'LL BE BACK IN A MINUTE.

Housten replies,
THIS IS AWESOME!
UH, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Veronica answers,
WELL, YOU COULD DO ANYTHING.
YOU COULD READ THEM A STORY,
OR YOU COULD SING THEM A SONG.
WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO,
AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT TOO LOUD.

Housten responds, I'M SO ON IT.

Veronica asks, ALRIGHT, READY?

Chloe says, YEAH.

Housten dances as Veronica and Chloe walk away from him.

(Housten starts beatboxing)

Veronica and Chloe make fruit skewers out of cantaloupe and bananas in the kitchen.

Chloe states,
WE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT
BATS TODAY.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE
SO GOOD AT SMELLING AND SEEING.
I WONDER WHY PEOPLE SAY,
"BLIND AS A BAT"?

Veronica answers,
WELL, BATS DON'T FLY
IN STRAIGHT PATTERNS.
THEY KIND OF FLY WEAVE UP
AND DOWN AT NIGHT,
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S HOW
THEY CATCH INSECTS
AND THEY'RE FOLLOWING THEIR
ECHOLOCATION.
SO, IT'S LIKELY THAT PEOPLE
THOUGHT THAT THEY ARE BLIND
BECAUSE THEY DON'T FLY
STRAIGHT.

Chloe replies,
THAT'S SO INCREDIBLE THAT
THEY CAN FIND TINY BUGS
FLYING THROUGH THE AIR AND
CAPTURE THEM, MID-FLIGHT.
ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS
WONDERED THOUGH,
HOW COME THEY HANG UPSIDE DOWN?

Veronica says,
WELL, BATS DIDN'T EVOLVE
TO HAVE STRONG ENOUGH LEGS
TO BE ABLE TO LIFT OFF OF THE
GROUND, SO BY HANGING UPSIDE,
THEY LET GRAVITY DO ITS THING,
AND THEY LET GO,
AND TA-DA, THEY'RE FLYING!

Chloe responds,
WOW! NATURE IS SO COOL!

Veronica and Chloe hold up their fruit skewers and place them in a metal bowl.

Housten bobs his head as he looks into the bat enclosure. Chloe and Veronica approach him.

Housten raps,
WHEN IT COMES TO POLLEN
THEY'RE ALL IN B-BATS,
NIGHT FLIERS
DIPPIN', DIVIN'
HEADFIRST TO THE FLOWER
GIVING IT THE POWER
TO TRANSMUTE TO THE FRUIT
AND BANG COMES THE MANGO
B-BATS IT'S BIOLOGY,
IT'S ECOLOGY
THERE JUST AIN'T NO GREATER
POLLINATOR

(Clapping)

Chloe says,
WOW, HOUSTEN, GREAT RAP.

Veronica adds,
YOU DEFINITELY KEPT THESE
BATS ENTERTAINED.

Housten replies,
ALWAYS READY TO DROP A BEAT
FOR A POLLINATOR PAL.

Veronica says,
WELL, I THINK YOU'VE HELPED
THEM WORK UP QUITE AN APPETITE.
I GUESS IT'S TIME TO FEED
OUR GREAT POLLINATORS.

Housten pumps his fists as Veronica carries the fruit skewers into the enclosure. Chloe watches Veronica hang them from the ceiling.

Bats eat the skewers.

Veronica says,
GREAT JOB, POLLINHEADS!
WE'VE DONE JUST A GOOD JOB
TODAY;
I THINK WE'VE EARNED
A POPSICLE OURSELVES!

Chloe and Housten pull a popsicle out of a yellow and pink container.

Chloe says,
HEY, IT'S OUR FIRST BATSICLE.

Housten responds,
MMM, YOU SAID IT, CHLOE.

Veronica, Chloe, and Housten push their popsicles together.

They say, CHEERS!

Clouds float over the lake. Bats appear on a monitor.

Text reads, “PollinHeads Alert!”

Leo says,
CHLOE AND HOUSTEN DID
GREAT WORK TODAY
HELPING OUT THESE SUPERHERO
POLLINATORS.
BUT THESE WINGED POLLINATING
CRUSADERS NEED EVERYONE'S
HELP. BET YOU'RE THINKING,
HOW CAN I, HERE, POSSIBLY HELP
A POLLINATOR PAL
ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE WORLD?
WELL, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE
YOUR OWN SUPERHERO POWERS.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO HELP
THE EGYPTIAN FRUIT BAT
IS BY RECYCLING YOUR PAPER.
YEPPERS, IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.
EVERY TIME YOU RECYCLE PAPER
OR CARDBOARD,
YOU'RE STOPPING TREES
FROM BEING CUT DOWN.
LESS TREES MEANS
FEWER HOMES FOR OUR BATS,
AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM!
SO, BLUE BOX FOR BATS.
AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO SEE SOME
BATS FLYING OVERHEAD
THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE CAMPING,
SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
MOSQUITOES THEY'RE EATING,
THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO EAT YOU.

Credits read, “Directed by Gloria Kim. Written by Karen Hawes. Created by Karen Hawes & Christopher Szarka. Produced by Christopher Szarka & Raj Panikkar. With Naomi Melvin as ‘Leo’ & Chloe Drayton, Housten Daghighi”

Text reads, “Fifth Ground Entertainment. Tvo kids”