.svg){kind=logo}
Transcript: Mission: Wetlands
(music plays)
Against a white screen, the TVOKids and FifthGround Entertainment logos appear.
(giggling)
A caption reads "Original."
(theme music plays)
An animated blue sign that reads "FishHeads" falls into the sea.
Leo is an animated blue and orange catfish.
Leo says WE ARE THE FISHHEADS
EXPLORER CLUB,
SAYAT, CHRISTIAN,
AND ME, LEO.
Sayat and Christian are about 12 years old. Sayat has curly black hair and wears a blue sweater and a green lifejacket. Christian has short brown hair and wears glasses, an orange jacket and a blue T-shirt.
Leo continues TOGETHER, WE'RE GETTING WET
AND MUCKY
WORKING WITH EXPERTS AND
HELPING OUR AQUATIC FRIENDS.
EACH DAY WE'RE ON A NEW MISSION
EXPLORING WHAT'S GOING ON
ALONG THE SHORELINES
AND UNDER THE WAVES.
SPLISH, SPLASH, GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOU CAN BE A FISHHEAD TOO.
Fast clips in split screens show Sayat and Christian sailing, exploring river eco-systems and learning about their creatures.
(water burbles)
The title of the show reads "FishHeads, Explorer Club."
Leo swims near two tablets at the bottom of a lake.
(water burbles)
Leo says LISTEN UP FISHHEADS,
WE'VE GOT AN EXTRA IMPORTANT
MISSION TODAY!
HOMES ARE BEING LOST.
THE WETLANDS,
WHICH IS HOME TO SO MANY
ARE BEING TAKEN OVER!
THERE'S AN INVADER
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT
IT'S NOT THE FINNED KIND!
UH-UH. PHRAGMITES!
WOO. FUN WORD.
BUT THAT'S THE ONLY FUN THING
ABOUT IT.
THIS INVASIVE PLANT HAS
MOVED IN, AND GROWS SO THICK
THAT FISH, FROGS AND TURTLES
CAN'T GET THROUGH IT.
SO THERE'S NO PLACE TO LAY
THEIR EGGS
OR RAISE THEIR YOUNG.
IT'S A BAD SITUATION!
CHRISTIAN AND SAYAT
ARE MEETING UP
WITH ECOLOGIST, LAURA,
FROM PARKS CANADA
AT GEORGIAN BAY ISLANDS
NATIONAL PARK
TO HELP REMOVE THIS PLANT
BULLY.
An animated map homes in on Ontario.
Leo continues THEN THEY'LL MEET UP WITH
CONSERVATION EXPERT, MIKE,
TO CHECK UP ON THE FROGS.
WHY FROGS YOU ASK?
WELL, FROGS ARE A SUPER
IMPORTANT MEMBER
OF THE WETLANDS COMMUNITY
AND IF THEY START TO DISAPPEAR
YOU KNOW THE FISH
ARE IN TROUBLE.
HOP TO IT, FISHHEADS,
YOUR AQUATIC NEIGHBOURS
ARE DEPENDING ON YOU.
(chuckles)
SEE WHAT I DID THERE...
"HOP TO IT."
HOW DO I COME UP
WITH THESE THINGS.
Sayat and Christian stand next to Laura by a riverside.
A caption reads "Laura Baldwick. Parks Canada. Ecologist." Laura is in her twenties, with long blond hair. She wears a shirt under an overall.
Laura says THIS HERE IS THE ARCHENEMY
OF WETLANDS.
THIS IS CALLED,
PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS,
AND IT'S AN INVASIVE PLANT
THAT WE HAVE BEAUSOLEIL.
PHRAGMITES CAN GROW UPWARDS
OF FIVE METRES TALL
AND THIS PATCH HERE IS LIKELY
CLOSER TO THREE METRES.
Christian says WOW, I SEE THESE EVERYWHERE.
I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWS
THAT THEY WERE INVASIVE.
Laura says THE PATCHES CAN GROW
QUITE DENSE,
AND THE ROOTS CAN EVEN RELEASE
A TOXIN INTO THE SOIL,
WHICH PREVENTS OTHER NATIVE
PLANTS
FROM GROWLING IN THE WETLAND.
Sayat says NO WONDER WHY LEO CALLS IT
A 'PLANT BULLY'!
Christian says FISH MUST BE TRAPPED
IN HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Laura says NOT JUST FISH, BUT TURTLES
FROGS, EVEN SHOREBIRDS.
THAT'S WHY PARKS CANADA
HAS DESIGNED A PROGRAM
SPECIFICALLY TO CUT PATCHES
OF PHRAGMITES LIKE THIS
FROM BEAUSOLEIL ISLAND.
Sayat says THAT'S GREAT,
BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY
CREATURES TRYING TO LIVE HERE.
Christian says WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
Laura says WHILE YOU GUYS ARE HERE
I'D LOVE YOUR HELP
TO CUT DOWN SOME OF
THE PHRAGMITES PATCHES?
Sayat says WE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO HELP OUR AQUATIC FRIENDS!
Laura says THIS IS CALLED
A RASPBERRY CANE CUTTER,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT TOOL
FOR CUTTING PHRAGMITES.
SO WE USE THIS TO CUT THE
PHRAGMITES UNDERNEATH THE WATER
AND THEN THE PLANT WILL
ACTUALLY SUCK UP WATER
INTO ITS ROOT SYSTEM
AND IT DIES.
Sayat says THESE ARE PRETTY BIG -
I GUESS WE CAN'T JUST LIKE
PULL IT OUT.
Laura says NO, WE WANNA MAKE SURE
THAT WE DON'T PULL IT
AND THAT WE'RE JUST CUTTING IT.
IF YOU PULL THE PLANT YOU CAN
DISTURB ALL THE SANDY AREA
AND IT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES
THE PLANT TO GROW STRONGER.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU GUYS
THAT THIS HOOK IS SHARP.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO BEFORE
WE TACKLE THE PATCH IS,
WWE'RE GOINNA MAKE SURE WE'RE
CUTTING UNDERNEATH THE WATER
ON THE STEM OF THE PHRAGMITES
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PULL
JUST GENTLY TOWARDS OUR SELF,
AND THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA
DISRUPT THE SAND.
ARE YOU GUYS READY
TO GET STARTED?
The kids say YEAH.
The caption changes to "Michael Gemmell. Parks Canada. Ecologist." Michael is in his late twenties, clean-shaven with short hair. He wears a hat, glasses, blue shirt and an overral.
Michael says WHOA, THIS IS AMAZING.
ISN'T IT GREAT TO HAVE ALL
THIS HELP.
Laura says OH BIG TIME!
THANKS, FISHHEADS!
WE LOVE HAVING VOLUNTEERS
OUT TO THE PARK
TO HELP REMOVE PHRAGMITES.
Michael says NOW THAT THIS IS DONE
DO YOU WANNA SEE
HOW REMOVING PHRAGMITES
HELPS THINGS LIKE FROGS
IN THE ECOSYSTEM?
Sayat says FROGS?
I LOVE FROGS, BUT HOW DO THEY
HELP US KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FISH
AND THE BUGS?
Michael says FROGS, WE CONSIDER
INDICATOR SPECIES
BECAUSE THEY BREATHE AND DRINK
THROUGH THEIR SKIN.
SO THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE
TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.
BY KNOWING HOW THEIR
POPULATION IS DOING
HELPS US UNDERSTAND
HOW OTHER SPECIES ARE DOING.
Christian saysOH. SO IF THE FROGS
ARE DOING WELL
THEN THAT MEANS WE HAVE TONS
OF BUGS
AND THE WATER QUALITY IS GOOD,
WHICH IS EVERYTHING
THAT A FISH NEEDS.
Laura says NOT JUST THE FISH,
ALSO GOOD FOR THE TURTLES
AND SHOREBIRDS LIKE
GREAT BLUE HERONS
Sayat says AND I GUESS COUNTING FROGS
ARE WAY MORE EASIER
THAN COUNTING BUGS OR FISH?
Michael says I'D SAY SO.
ARE YOU GUYS READY?
The Kids say OH YEAH.
Sayat says I'VE ALWAYS LOVED FROGS,
YOU'RE SO LUCKY TO BE WORKING
WITH THEM EVERYDAY.
Michael says THEY ARE FASCINATING
CREATURES.
DID YOU KNOW THAT
THEY'RE AMPHIBIANS?
Christian says YEAH!
Michael says AMPHIBIAN MEANS "TWO LIVES."
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY CAN LIVE
IN THE WATER AND ON LAND.
NOT ONLY THAT BUT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THEIR LIFE
THEY LIVE AS COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT CREATURE
IN THE WATER,
WITH GILLS AND A TAIL.
AND THEN CHANGE INTO ADULT FORM
IN A PROCESS CALLED
METAMORPHOSIS.
Now, Christian stands next to a greenboard.
Christian says DID YOU KNOW THAT
METAMORPHOSIS
IS JUST A REALLY BIG WORD
THAT DESCRIBE THE PHYSICAL
CHANGES
THAT SOME CREATURES HAVE TO GO
THROUGH TO BECOME ADULTS.
A TADPOLE ONLY
HAS TAIL AND GILLS
BUT GRADUALLY IT'LL GROW LIMBS.
FIRST ITS BACK LEGS
AND ITS FRONT LEGS
AND THEN ITS GILLS
WILL DISAPPEAR.
THEN IT'LL EMERGE
FROM THE WATER
AND BOUNCE INTO ITS LIFE
AS AN ADULT FROG.
OUR BODIES MAY GET BIGGER
AS WE GROW,
BUT THEY DON'T REALLY CHANGE.
METAMORPHOSIS MEANS;
WHEN A BABY IS BORN
IT HAS ONE TYPE OF BODY
AND THEN A DIFFERENT TYPE
OF BODY AS AN ADULT.
NOW YOU KNOW!
Sayat says HOW MANY TYPES FROGS
ARE IN THIS AREA?
Michael says THERE'RE ABOUT 8 DIFFERENT
SPECIES OF FROG IN THE AREA.
WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE THREE.
THE BULL FROG,
THE NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG
AND THE GREEN FROG.
Close-up shots show the frogs mentioned.
Christian says WHAT IF WE DON'T
SEE ANY?
Michael says THE NICE THING ABOUT FROGS
IS NOT ONLY CAN WE IDENTIFY
THEM BY SIGHT,
BUT ALSO BY SOUND.
EACH SPECIES HAS ITS
OWN DISTINCT CALL.
FOR EXAMPLE...
Michael plays an audio showing frogs croaking on a tablet.
Sayat says WHAT'S THAT ONE?
Michael says THE HIGH-PITCHED ONE
IS A SPRING-PEEPER.
Christian says AH...
Michael says AND THE OTHER ONE,
(long slow croak)
YOU HEARD THAT?
Sayat says YEAH.
Michael says THAT'S THE NORTHERN LEOPARD
FROG.
Sayat says OH... IT WAS LIKE ERRRRR.
Christian says ERRRRR.
Michael says YEAH.
(rhythmic croak)
Christian says IT THAT LIKE A BULL FROG
OR SOMETHING?
Michael says THAT IS A BULL FROG!
(imitating rhythmic croak)
(high-pitched croak)
Sayat says WHOA. WHAT'S THAT ONE?
Michael says IT'S THE GREEN FROG.
Christian says OH.
Michael says SO IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT
TO MARK DOWN EVERYTHING
THAT YOU SEE,
BUT ALSO EVERYTHING
THAT YOU HEAR.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER I SAID THAT
FROGS ARE INDICATORS.
THEY HAVE VERY SENSITIVE SKIN
BECAUSE THEY BREATHE THROUGH IT
AND DRINK THROUGH IT.
Leo says SAFETY CHECK!
(whistle blows)
LISTEN UP, FISHHEADS,
THIS IS AN EXTRA SPECIAL
SAFETY CHECK.
YOUR WETLAND PALS ARE HAPPIEST
WHEN YOU OBSERVE
FROM A DISTANCE -
THEY GET STRESSED WHEN
YOU TRY TO CAPTURE THEM.
JUST LIKE US FISH.
BUT IF YOU DO DECIDE
YOU NEED A CLOSER LOOK
MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE WET!
AND CLEAN!
NO SUN SCREEN OR BUG SPRAY
ON THEM.
UH-UH. A FROG'S SKIN
IS VERY SENSITIVE
AND THOSE THINGS CAN CAUSE THEM
A LOT OF HARM.
AND AFTER YOU'VE HAD A SHORT
VISIT WITH THEM -
LET THEM GO -
THEY ARE WILD ANIMALS
AFTER ALL.
THEY'LL BE MUCH HAPPIER
SLEEPING RIGHT HERE
IN THE WETLANDS THAN IN A
TERRARIUM IN YOUR BEDROOM.
Michael says ARE YOU TWO READY TO COUNT
SOME FROGS?!
Sayat says I WAS BORN READY!
Christian says ME TOO!
Michael hands him a notebook.
Christian says THANKS.
Sayat says OH I SEE ONE!
Christian says WHERE?
Sayat says LOOK.
Christian gasps and says WHOA.
Michael says LOOK AT THAT.
YOU DID.
AND IT'S A LEOPARD FROG.
Christian says WOW.
WE GOTTA WRITE THIS DOWN.
Sayat says YEAH.
NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG.
CHECK.
LET'S GO FIND SOME MORE.
Michael says HEY, FISHHEADS,
WHEN YOU'RE DONE COME ON OVER.
Christian says OKAY.
WHOA!
Michael sits next to a fish tank.
Michael says ARE THOSE YOUR DATA
SHEETS?
The Kids say YEAH.
Michael says WHY DON'T YOU CAN PASS THEM
TO ME.
Christian says THERE YOU ARE.
Michael says SO WHILE WE WERE OUT
I CAME ACROSS A FEW FROGS.
Sayat says A FEW? A LOT!
Michael says AND THIS IS A GREAT,
BIG LEOPARD FROG.
THE LEOPARD FROG
HAS SPOTS ON ITS BACK.
AND THEN RIGHT HERE YOU CAN SEE
TYMPANDIC MEMBRANE.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
THAT IS ON A FROG?
Sayat asks THEIR SKULL?
Michael says THE TYMPANUM IS THE EAR.
Sayat says OH.
Michael says THIS LITTLE ONE HERE
IS A GREEN FROG.
RIGHT ON THE TOP OF THE JAW
WE HAVE GREEN,
BUT IT'S THAT LATERAL LINE
THAT HELPS US TO DISTINGUISH.
AND ALSO HAVING WHITE BELLY.
THAT LEAVES THE LAST ONE.
Sayat says A BULL FROG?
Michael says A BULL FROG.
NOW WHAT'S INTERESTING,
VERY PARTICULAR TO GREEN FROG,
AND BULL FROG,
THE SIZE OF THE TYMPANUM
ACTUALLY HELPS US DETERMINE
IF IT'S A BOY OR A GIRL.
Christian says WOW.
Michael says SO WHAT DO YOU THINK -
BOY OR A GIRL?
Christian says I'M SAYING... BOY?
Sayat says IT'S A GIRL.
Michael says THE GIRLS HAVE IT.
Sayat says YES!
Leo says IF THE TYMPANUM OR EAR,
IS SMALLER OR THE SAME SIZE
AS THE EYE,
THEN IT'S A GIRL.
BUT IF IT'S BIGGER...
IT'S A BOY.
SO COOL, EH?
Christian says SO HOW DO YOU
KNOW IF YOU'RE SEEING
A FROG OR A TOAD?
THEY LOOK SO SIMILAR.
Michael says GOOD QUESTION.
ALL TOADS ARE FROGS.
TOADS HAVE NO TEETH.
Sayat says FROGS HAVE TEETH?
Michael says YES, ALL THESE FROGS
RIGHT HERE HAVE TEETH.
Sayat says NO WAY.
Michael says EXCEPT THEY'RE ONLY
ON THE TOP.
Sayat says I HAD NO IDEA.
Michael says WHAT A DAY WE'RE HAD TODAY.
WITH ALL THE FROGS
THAT WE'VE SEEN
OUR JOB REMOVING PHRAGMITES
MUST BE HAVING A POSITIVE
EFFECT ON THE ECOSYSTEM.
Sayat says I'M SAD TO SEE THEM GO,
BUT HAPPY THEY HAVE A HOME
TO GO BACK TO.
The kids put frogs on a river.
Sayat says BYE BYE. AW.
Michael says SAY GOODBYE.
(foghorn sounds)
Leo says ATTENTION FELLOW FISHHEADS!
THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO
TO HELP THE FROGS,
AND THE ENTIRE WETLANDS,
IS KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED
FOR THAT BULLY PHRAGMITES.
IF YOU SPOT IT
BE SURE TO TELL
YOUR LOCAL CONSERVATION
AUTHORITY -
IT SPREADS QUICKLY AND
CAN TAKE OVER IN NO TIME!
Christian says CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT FROGS.
Michael says FROGS ARE FASCINATING.
BUT THEY DON'T MAKE GOOD PETS,
AND THEY WANNA BE WITH
THEIR COMMUNITY,
WERE THEY CAN TAKE THEIR ROLE
IN THE ECOSYSTEM.
Christian says SAYAT, FISHHEADS HANDSHAKE!
Sayat says OH YEAH.
The Kids say FISHHEADS!
Leo says WAY TO GO, FISHHEADS!
I KNOW SAYAT LOVES FROGS,
AND I SUSPECTS THAT SHE'D
PROBABLY LOVE TO KEEP ONE
BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES HER
SUCH A GOOD FISHHEAD -
DOING WHAT'S BEST
FOR HER AQUATIC FRIENDS.
(SIGHS) I'VE DONE A GOOD JOB
RAISING MY FISHHEADS.
(theme music plays)
The end credits roll.
Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved.
Against a white screen, the TVOKids and FifthGround Entertainment logos appear.
(giggling)
A caption reads "Original."
(theme music plays)
An animated blue sign that reads "FishHeads" falls into the sea.
Leo is an animated blue and orange catfish.
Leo says WE ARE THE FISHHEADS
EXPLORER CLUB,
SAYAT, CHRISTIAN,
AND ME, LEO.
Sayat and Christian are about 12 years old. Sayat has curly black hair and wears a blue sweater and a green lifejacket. Christian has short brown hair and wears glasses, an orange jacket and a blue T-shirt.
Leo continues TOGETHER, WE'RE GETTING WET
AND MUCKY
WORKING WITH EXPERTS AND
HELPING OUR AQUATIC FRIENDS.
EACH DAY WE'RE ON A NEW MISSION
EXPLORING WHAT'S GOING ON
ALONG THE SHORELINES
AND UNDER THE WAVES.
SPLISH, SPLASH, GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOU CAN BE A FISHHEAD TOO.
Fast clips in split screens show Sayat and Christian sailing, exploring river eco-systems and learning about their creatures.
(water burbles)
The title of the show reads "FishHeads, Explorer Club."
Leo swims near two tablets at the bottom of a lake.
(water burbles)
Leo says LISTEN UP FISHHEADS,
WE'VE GOT AN EXTRA IMPORTANT
MISSION TODAY!
HOMES ARE BEING LOST.
THE WETLANDS,
WHICH IS HOME TO SO MANY
ARE BEING TAKEN OVER!
THERE'S AN INVADER
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT
IT'S NOT THE FINNED KIND!
UH-UH. PHRAGMITES!
WOO. FUN WORD.
BUT THAT'S THE ONLY FUN THING
ABOUT IT.
THIS INVASIVE PLANT HAS
MOVED IN, AND GROWS SO THICK
THAT FISH, FROGS AND TURTLES
CAN'T GET THROUGH IT.
SO THERE'S NO PLACE TO LAY
THEIR EGGS
OR RAISE THEIR YOUNG.
IT'S A BAD SITUATION!
CHRISTIAN AND SAYAT
ARE MEETING UP
WITH ECOLOGIST, LAURA,
FROM PARKS CANADA
AT GEORGIAN BAY ISLANDS
NATIONAL PARK
TO HELP REMOVE THIS PLANT
BULLY.
An animated map homes in on Ontario.
Leo continues THEN THEY'LL MEET UP WITH
CONSERVATION EXPERT, MIKE,
TO CHECK UP ON THE FROGS.
WHY FROGS YOU ASK?
WELL, FROGS ARE A SUPER
IMPORTANT MEMBER
OF THE WETLANDS COMMUNITY
AND IF THEY START TO DISAPPEAR
YOU KNOW THE FISH
ARE IN TROUBLE.
HOP TO IT, FISHHEADS,
YOUR AQUATIC NEIGHBOURS
ARE DEPENDING ON YOU.
(chuckles)
SEE WHAT I DID THERE...
"HOP TO IT."
HOW DO I COME UP
WITH THESE THINGS.
Sayat and Christian stand next to Laura by a riverside.
A caption reads "Laura Baldwick. Parks Canada. Ecologist." Laura is in her twenties, with long blond hair. She wears a shirt under an overall.
Laura says THIS HERE IS THE ARCHENEMY
OF WETLANDS.
THIS IS CALLED,
PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS,
AND IT'S AN INVASIVE PLANT
THAT WE HAVE BEAUSOLEIL.
PHRAGMITES CAN GROW UPWARDS
OF FIVE METRES TALL
AND THIS PATCH HERE IS LIKELY
CLOSER TO THREE METRES.
Christian says WOW, I SEE THESE EVERYWHERE.
I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWS
THAT THEY WERE INVASIVE.
Laura says THE PATCHES CAN GROW
QUITE DENSE,
AND THE ROOTS CAN EVEN RELEASE
A TOXIN INTO THE SOIL,
WHICH PREVENTS OTHER NATIVE
PLANTS
FROM GROWLING IN THE WETLAND.
Sayat says NO WONDER WHY LEO CALLS IT
A 'PLANT BULLY'!
Christian says FISH MUST BE TRAPPED
IN HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Laura says NOT JUST FISH, BUT TURTLES
FROGS, EVEN SHOREBIRDS.
THAT'S WHY PARKS CANADA
HAS DESIGNED A PROGRAM
SPECIFICALLY TO CUT PATCHES
OF PHRAGMITES LIKE THIS
FROM BEAUSOLEIL ISLAND.
Sayat says THAT'S GREAT,
BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY
CREATURES TRYING TO LIVE HERE.
Christian says WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
Laura says WHILE YOU GUYS ARE HERE
I'D LOVE YOUR HELP
TO CUT DOWN SOME OF
THE PHRAGMITES PATCHES?
Sayat says WE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO HELP OUR AQUATIC FRIENDS!
Laura says THIS IS CALLED
A RASPBERRY CANE CUTTER,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT TOOL
FOR CUTTING PHRAGMITES.
SO WE USE THIS TO CUT THE
PHRAGMITES UNDERNEATH THE WATER
AND THEN THE PLANT WILL
ACTUALLY SUCK UP WATER
INTO ITS ROOT SYSTEM
AND IT DIES.
Sayat says THESE ARE PRETTY BIG -
I GUESS WE CAN'T JUST LIKE
PULL IT OUT.
Laura says NO, WE WANNA MAKE SURE
THAT WE DON'T PULL IT
AND THAT WE'RE JUST CUTTING IT.
IF YOU PULL THE PLANT YOU CAN
DISTURB ALL THE SANDY AREA
AND IT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES
THE PLANT TO GROW STRONGER.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU GUYS
THAT THIS HOOK IS SHARP.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO BEFORE
WE TACKLE THE PATCH IS,
WWE'RE GOINNA MAKE SURE WE'RE
CUTTING UNDERNEATH THE WATER
ON THE STEM OF THE PHRAGMITES
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PULL
JUST GENTLY TOWARDS OUR SELF,
AND THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA
DISRUPT THE SAND.
ARE YOU GUYS READY
TO GET STARTED?
The kids say YEAH.
The caption changes to "Michael Gemmell. Parks Canada. Ecologist." Michael is in his late twenties, clean-shaven with short hair. He wears a hat, glasses, blue shirt and an overral.
Michael says WHOA, THIS IS AMAZING.
ISN'T IT GREAT TO HAVE ALL
THIS HELP.
Laura says OH BIG TIME!
THANKS, FISHHEADS!
WE LOVE HAVING VOLUNTEERS
OUT TO THE PARK
TO HELP REMOVE PHRAGMITES.
Michael says NOW THAT THIS IS DONE
DO YOU WANNA SEE
HOW REMOVING PHRAGMITES
HELPS THINGS LIKE FROGS
IN THE ECOSYSTEM?
Sayat says FROGS?
I LOVE FROGS, BUT HOW DO THEY
HELP US KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FISH
AND THE BUGS?
Michael says FROGS, WE CONSIDER
INDICATOR SPECIES
BECAUSE THEY BREATHE AND DRINK
THROUGH THEIR SKIN.
SO THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE
TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.
BY KNOWING HOW THEIR
POPULATION IS DOING
HELPS US UNDERSTAND
HOW OTHER SPECIES ARE DOING.
Christian saysOH. SO IF THE FROGS
ARE DOING WELL
THEN THAT MEANS WE HAVE TONS
OF BUGS
AND THE WATER QUALITY IS GOOD,
WHICH IS EVERYTHING
THAT A FISH NEEDS.
Laura says NOT JUST THE FISH,
ALSO GOOD FOR THE TURTLES
AND SHOREBIRDS LIKE
GREAT BLUE HERONS
Sayat says AND I GUESS COUNTING FROGS
ARE WAY MORE EASIER
THAN COUNTING BUGS OR FISH?
Michael says I'D SAY SO.
ARE YOU GUYS READY?
The Kids say OH YEAH.
Sayat says I'VE ALWAYS LOVED FROGS,
YOU'RE SO LUCKY TO BE WORKING
WITH THEM EVERYDAY.
Michael says THEY ARE FASCINATING
CREATURES.
DID YOU KNOW THAT
THEY'RE AMPHIBIANS?
Christian says YEAH!
Michael says AMPHIBIAN MEANS "TWO LIVES."
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY CAN LIVE
IN THE WATER AND ON LAND.
NOT ONLY THAT BUT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THEIR LIFE
THEY LIVE AS COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT CREATURE
IN THE WATER,
WITH GILLS AND A TAIL.
AND THEN CHANGE INTO ADULT FORM
IN A PROCESS CALLED
METAMORPHOSIS.
Now, Christian stands next to a greenboard.
Christian says DID YOU KNOW THAT
METAMORPHOSIS
IS JUST A REALLY BIG WORD
THAT DESCRIBE THE PHYSICAL
CHANGES
THAT SOME CREATURES HAVE TO GO
THROUGH TO BECOME ADULTS.
A TADPOLE ONLY
HAS TAIL AND GILLS
BUT GRADUALLY IT'LL GROW LIMBS.
FIRST ITS BACK LEGS
AND ITS FRONT LEGS
AND THEN ITS GILLS
WILL DISAPPEAR.
THEN IT'LL EMERGE
FROM THE WATER
AND BOUNCE INTO ITS LIFE
AS AN ADULT FROG.
OUR BODIES MAY GET BIGGER
AS WE GROW,
BUT THEY DON'T REALLY CHANGE.
METAMORPHOSIS MEANS;
WHEN A BABY IS BORN
IT HAS ONE TYPE OF BODY
AND THEN A DIFFERENT TYPE
OF BODY AS AN ADULT.
NOW YOU KNOW!
Sayat says HOW MANY TYPES FROGS
ARE IN THIS AREA?
Michael says THERE'RE ABOUT 8 DIFFERENT
SPECIES OF FROG IN THE AREA.
WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE THREE.
THE BULL FROG,
THE NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG
AND THE GREEN FROG.
Close-up shots show the frogs mentioned.
Christian says WHAT IF WE DON'T
SEE ANY?
Michael says THE NICE THING ABOUT FROGS
IS NOT ONLY CAN WE IDENTIFY
THEM BY SIGHT,
BUT ALSO BY SOUND.
EACH SPECIES HAS ITS
OWN DISTINCT CALL.
FOR EXAMPLE...
Michael plays an audio showing frogs croaking on a tablet.
Sayat says WHAT'S THAT ONE?
Michael says THE HIGH-PITCHED ONE
IS A SPRING-PEEPER.
Christian says AH...
Michael says AND THE OTHER ONE,
(long slow croak)
YOU HEARD THAT?
Sayat says YEAH.
Michael says THAT'S THE NORTHERN LEOPARD
FROG.
Sayat says OH... IT WAS LIKE ERRRRR.
Christian says ERRRRR.
Michael says YEAH.
(rhythmic croak)
Christian says IT THAT LIKE A BULL FROG
OR SOMETHING?
Michael says THAT IS A BULL FROG!
(imitating rhythmic croak)
(high-pitched croak)
Sayat says WHOA. WHAT'S THAT ONE?
Michael says IT'S THE GREEN FROG.
Christian says OH.
Michael says SO IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT
TO MARK DOWN EVERYTHING
THAT YOU SEE,
BUT ALSO EVERYTHING
THAT YOU HEAR.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER I SAID THAT
FROGS ARE INDICATORS.
THEY HAVE VERY SENSITIVE SKIN
BECAUSE THEY BREATHE THROUGH IT
AND DRINK THROUGH IT.
Leo says SAFETY CHECK!
(whistle blows)
LISTEN UP, FISHHEADS,
THIS IS AN EXTRA SPECIAL
SAFETY CHECK.
YOUR WETLAND PALS ARE HAPPIEST
WHEN YOU OBSERVE
FROM A DISTANCE -
THEY GET STRESSED WHEN
YOU TRY TO CAPTURE THEM.
JUST LIKE US FISH.
BUT IF YOU DO DECIDE
YOU NEED A CLOSER LOOK
MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE WET!
AND CLEAN!
NO SUN SCREEN OR BUG SPRAY
ON THEM.
UH-UH. A FROG'S SKIN
IS VERY SENSITIVE
AND THOSE THINGS CAN CAUSE THEM
A LOT OF HARM.
AND AFTER YOU'VE HAD A SHORT
VISIT WITH THEM -
LET THEM GO -
THEY ARE WILD ANIMALS
AFTER ALL.
THEY'LL BE MUCH HAPPIER
SLEEPING RIGHT HERE
IN THE WETLANDS THAN IN A
TERRARIUM IN YOUR BEDROOM.
Michael says ARE YOU TWO READY TO COUNT
SOME FROGS?!
Sayat says I WAS BORN READY!
Christian says ME TOO!
Michael hands him a notebook.
Christian says THANKS.
Sayat says OH I SEE ONE!
Christian says WHERE?
Sayat says LOOK.
Christian gasps and says WHOA.
Michael says LOOK AT THAT.
YOU DID.
AND IT'S A LEOPARD FROG.
Christian says WOW.
WE GOTTA WRITE THIS DOWN.
Sayat says YEAH.
NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG.
CHECK.
LET'S GO FIND SOME MORE.
Michael says HEY, FISHHEADS,
WHEN YOU'RE DONE COME ON OVER.
Christian says OKAY.
WHOA!
Michael sits next to a fish tank.
Michael says ARE THOSE YOUR DATA
SHEETS?
The Kids say YEAH.
Michael says WHY DON'T YOU CAN PASS THEM
TO ME.
Christian says THERE YOU ARE.
Michael says SO WHILE WE WERE OUT
I CAME ACROSS A FEW FROGS.
Sayat says A FEW? A LOT!
Michael says AND THIS IS A GREAT,
BIG LEOPARD FROG.
THE LEOPARD FROG
HAS SPOTS ON ITS BACK.
AND THEN RIGHT HERE YOU CAN SEE
TYMPANDIC MEMBRANE.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
THAT IS ON A FROG?
Sayat asks THEIR SKULL?
Michael says THE TYMPANUM IS THE EAR.
Sayat says OH.
Michael says THIS LITTLE ONE HERE
IS A GREEN FROG.
RIGHT ON THE TOP OF THE JAW
WE HAVE GREEN,
BUT IT'S THAT LATERAL LINE
THAT HELPS US TO DISTINGUISH.
AND ALSO HAVING WHITE BELLY.
THAT LEAVES THE LAST ONE.
Sayat says A BULL FROG?
Michael says A BULL FROG.
NOW WHAT'S INTERESTING,
VERY PARTICULAR TO GREEN FROG,
AND BULL FROG,
THE SIZE OF THE TYMPANUM
ACTUALLY HELPS US DETERMINE
IF IT'S A BOY OR A GIRL.
Christian says WOW.
Michael says SO WHAT DO YOU THINK -
BOY OR A GIRL?
Christian says I'M SAYING... BOY?
Sayat says IT'S A GIRL.
Michael says THE GIRLS HAVE IT.
Sayat says YES!
Leo says IF THE TYMPANUM OR EAR,
IS SMALLER OR THE SAME SIZE
AS THE EYE,
THEN IT'S A GIRL.
BUT IF IT'S BIGGER...
IT'S A BOY.
SO COOL, EH?
Christian says SO HOW DO YOU
KNOW IF YOU'RE SEEING
A FROG OR A TOAD?
THEY LOOK SO SIMILAR.
Michael says GOOD QUESTION.
ALL TOADS ARE FROGS.
TOADS HAVE NO TEETH.
Sayat says FROGS HAVE TEETH?
Michael says YES, ALL THESE FROGS
RIGHT HERE HAVE TEETH.
Sayat says NO WAY.
Michael says EXCEPT THEY'RE ONLY
ON THE TOP.
Sayat says I HAD NO IDEA.
Michael says WHAT A DAY WE'RE HAD TODAY.
WITH ALL THE FROGS
THAT WE'VE SEEN
OUR JOB REMOVING PHRAGMITES
MUST BE HAVING A POSITIVE
EFFECT ON THE ECOSYSTEM.
Sayat says I'M SAD TO SEE THEM GO,
BUT HAPPY THEY HAVE A HOME
TO GO BACK TO.
The kids put frogs on a river.
Sayat says BYE BYE. AW.
Michael says SAY GOODBYE.
(foghorn sounds)
Leo says ATTENTION FELLOW FISHHEADS!
THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO
TO HELP THE FROGS,
AND THE ENTIRE WETLANDS,
IS KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED
FOR THAT BULLY PHRAGMITES.
IF YOU SPOT IT
BE SURE TO TELL
YOUR LOCAL CONSERVATION
AUTHORITY -
IT SPREADS QUICKLY AND
CAN TAKE OVER IN NO TIME!
Christian says CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT FROGS.
Michael says FROGS ARE FASCINATING.
BUT THEY DON'T MAKE GOOD PETS,
AND THEY WANNA BE WITH
THEIR COMMUNITY,
WERE THEY CAN TAKE THEIR ROLE
IN THE ECOSYSTEM.
Christian says SAYAT, FISHHEADS HANDSHAKE!
Sayat says OH YEAH.
The Kids say FISHHEADS!
Leo says WAY TO GO, FISHHEADS!
I KNOW SAYAT LOVES FROGS,
AND I SUSPECTS THAT SHE'D
PROBABLY LOVE TO KEEP ONE
BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES HER
SUCH A GOOD FISHHEAD -
DOING WHAT'S BEST
FOR HER AQUATIC FRIENDS.
(SIGHS) I'VE DONE A GOOD JOB
RAISING MY FISHHEADS.
(theme music plays)
The end credits roll.
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