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.”

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
FIELDS 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. Leo wears a crown and swims in front of two monitors.

Leo says, A QUEEN BY ANY OTHER NAME
IS A MONARCH!
AND THIS ROYAL BUTTERFLY
IS AT THE TOP OF THE
'NATOR NAVIGATOR TODAY.

A Monarch butterfly sits on a pink flower.

Text reads, Monarch Butterfly.

Leo continues, WITH ITS BRIGHT ORANGE
AND BLACK COLOURING,
IT'S A BUTTERFLY MOST PEOPLE
KNOW.
THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY
ISN'T THE MOST EFFICIENT
POLLINATOR OUT THERE,
BUT IT DOES HELP
POLLINATE WILDFLOWERS.
WILDFLOWERS PROBABLY
AREN'T SOMETHING
THAT YOU'LL BE EATING,
BUT THEY PROVIDE FOOD FOR
BIRDS, BEETLES, AND BUGS.

Images of a hummingbird, a beetle, and a grasshopper appear over an aqua blue background.

Leo continues, MMM, YUMMY BUGS.
BUT THIS ROYAL BUTTERFLY
IS AT THE TOP OF THE CLASS
FOR RAISING AWARENESS
FOR ALL KINDS OF POLLINATORS
AT RISK.
BESIDES BEING A MEDIA STAR,

Camera flashes appear over images of monarch butterflies

(Camera clicks)

An animated map shows a butterfly crossing from eastern Canada to Mexico.

Leo continues, OUR MONARCH POLLINATING PALS
GET AROUND!
THEY'RE ONE OF THE FEW
BUTTERFLIES WHO MIGRATE
AND THE ONLY ONE WHO MAKES
A RETURN TRIP BACK NORTH
FOR THE SUMMER FROM MEXICO.
ONCE THE TEMPERATURE
STARTS TO WARM UP,
THEY LEAVE THEIR MEXICAN
WINTER HOME
AND BEGIN TO HEAD BACK HERE.
POLLINATING WILDFLOWERS
ALONG THE WAY!

Images of butterflies on wildflowers appear on the map.

Leo continues, SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW PEOPLE
ALL OVER ARE WORRIED
THAT THE MONARCH POPULATIONS
ARE DECLINING.
TODAY, THE POLLINHEADS
ARE MEETING UP WITH VICKY,
FROM THE TORONTO AND REGION
CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
TO HELP WITH A PROGRAM
THAT TAGS AND TRACKS
THE MONARCHS
SO WE CAN KEEP A BETTER EYE
ON THEIR POPULATION.

An orange flag on a map of Ontario highlights Toronto.

Leo says, WOW.

The CN Tower stands in the distance between gently swaying leaves on a plant.
Vicky examines leaves with Chloe and Housten. Vicky wears a navy-blue t-shirt and a grey cap. She has shoulder-length black hair.

Text reads, Vicky An. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Nature Educator.

Vicky says, SO, THIS IS A GREAT
PLANT TO LOOK AT
TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND ANY EGGS.
LET'S FLIP THIS LEAF OVER,
RIGHT HERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE
MONARCH EGG RIGHT THERE.

A small white egg is attached to a green leaf.

Text reads, caterpillar egg.

Chloe gasps.

Vicky says, AND THIS IS A REALLY
SPECIAL LEAF
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT
THE MONARCH EGGSHELL
AND A LITTLE FIRST INSTAR
CATERPILLAR, RIGHT THERE.

Chloe asks. HOW DO YOU KNOW
IT'S A MONARCH?

Vicky says, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
WILL LAY THEIR EGGS
ON MILKWEED PLANTS
AND THE CATERPILLARS
WILL EAT THE MILKWEED PLANT
AND STORE UP ALL OF THE TOXINS
THAT YOU CAN FIND IN THE LEAF.

Chloe asks, TOXINS? IT'S POISONOUS?

Vicky says, MILKWEED IS POISONOUS
TO MOST ORGANISMS
AND THAT'S HOW THE MONARCH
BUTTERFLIES
AND THE MONARCH CATERPILLARS
ARE ABLE TO BE POISONOUS
TO PREDATORS.

Housten says, WAIT, WHAT?
THE FOOD IS PROTECTION?

Vicky says, YEAH, THE FOOD PROTECTS
THE MONARCH CATERPILLARS
AND THE BUTTERFLIES,
FROM BEING EATEN BY PREDATORS,
LIKE BIRDS.

Chloe asks, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A BIRD
DID EAT THE MONARCH?

Vicky says, OH, THAT BIRD WOULD FEEL
REALLY SICK.
YEAH, AND THE OTHER COOL
THING ABOUT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
IS THAT THEY HAVE THIS BRIGHT
ORANGE AND BLACK COLOUR
WHICH SIGNALS TO PREDATORS
LIKE BIRDS,
"DON'T EAT ME, I'M POISONOUS."

Text beside an image of a monarch butterfly reads, The monarch’s bright orange colour acts as a warning that it is toxic to eat.

Vicky continues, SO, SOMETIMES YOU'LL FIND BIRDS
THAT DON'T KNOW THAT YET.
THEY'LL TAKE A CHOMP OUT
OF THE BUTTERFLY'S WINGS,
THEY'LL FIND THAT IT TASTES
SO BAD
THAT THEY'LL SPIT IT OUT,
AND SOMETIMES EVEN THROW UP.

Housten says, EW!

A small caterpillar larva sits on a green leaf.

Vicky says, SO, USUALLY WHEN
THE MONARCH CATERPILLAR
COMES OUT OF ITS EGG,
THE FIRST MEAL IT'S GOING
TO EAT IS ITS EGGSHELL.
AND AFTER THAT,
THE ONLY THING IT WILL EAT
IS THE MILKWEED.
AND WHAT'S REALLY COOL ABOUT
THIS MONARCH CATERPILLAR
IS THE ONLY THING
THAT IT'S GOING TO DO,
FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,
IS IT'S GOING TO EAT AND GROW,
AND EAT AND GROW,
AND EAT AND GROW.
SO, IF YOU WERE TO EAT AND GROW
IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME
THAT A MONARCH CATERPILLAR
TAKES TO BECOME A CHRYSALIS,
YOU WOULD BE AS BIG
AS A SCHOOL BUS.

A graphic shows Housten transforming into a school bus.

Chloe says, WHAT?! WHOA!

Housten giggles.

Vicky says, SO, THE MONARCH
CATERPILLAR
GOES THROUGH FIVE
INSTAR STAGES.

Five different-sized monarch caterpillars with yellow, white, and black stripes sit on a leaf with the numbers one through five beside them.

Vicky continues, AND INSTAR IS JUST A FANCY
WORD FOR GROWTH STAGES.
DO YOU GUYS WANNA SEE WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET BIGGER?

Chloe says, DEFINITELY!

Housten says, YEAH!

A large caterpillar sits on a leaf. An arrow points at the caterpillar that reads, 5th instar.

Vicky says, SO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN
IS THE CATERPILLAR,
ONCE IT'S DONE GROWING,
IT WILL START TO SPIN
A SILK BUTTON
AND IT WILL ACTUALLY
LEAVE THE MILKWEED PLANT
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS
ENTIRE LIFE WHEN IT DOES THAT.

Text beside an image of a caterpillar reads, The caterpillar makes the silk from a spinneret located at the bottom of its head.

Vicky says, ONCE IT SPINS THAT SILK BUTTON,
IT WILL TURN AROUND
AND HANG FROM THAT SILK BUTTON
FOR UNDER A DAY.
AND DURING THAT TIME,
IT'S BECOMING A CHRYSALIS.

In time-lapse motion, a caterpillar hangs from a branch, forming a shiny green chrysalis around its body. The chrysalis appears on one of Leo’s monitors.

Leo says, WHOA.

Chloe gazes at a leaf. A caterpillar stands on the underside of the leaf.

Chloe says, IT'S AWESOME THAT A LITTLE,
WIGGLY CATERPILLAR
CAN TURN INTO A BIG,
BEAUTIFUL MONARCH!

Vicky says, I THINK SO, TOO.
I THINK IT'S REALLY FASCINATING
HOW THERE ARE THESE
FOUR LIFE-CYCLE STAGES
OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY.
AND IT GOES FROM EGG,
TO CATERPILLAR,
TO CHRYSALIS,
TO MONARCH BUTTERFLY.

A graphic shows the life cycle of a monarch butterfly.

Vicky says, SO, MONARCHS,
LIKE MOST BUTTERFLIES,
WILL ONLY LIVE A COUPLE
OF WEEKS.
BUT THE ONES THAT ARE EMERGING
RIGHT NOW,
THE ONES THAT WE SEE HERE…

A monarch butterfly emerges from its chrysalis.

Vicky continues, THEY WILL MAKE THAT
4,000 KILOMETRE MIGRATION,
ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO MEXICO.

The map of North America with the butterfly flying to Mexico is shown.

Vicky carries a butterfly net as she walks along a trail with Chloe and Housten.

Vicky says, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE FIND
OUT HOW THEY GET TO MEXICO
IS BY TAGGING THEM.

Housten asks, LIKE A DOG TAG?
AREN'T THEY A LITTLE SMALL
TO BE WEARING A TAG?

Vicky says, YEAH, KIND OF LIKE DOG TAGS.
BUT THEY'RE MUCH SMALLER.
YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S CATCH UP
A FEW BUTTERFLIES,
AND I'LL SHOW YOU
HOW IT'S DONE.

Housten says, OKAY!

Vicky leads Chloe and Houston into an area of waist-high grass.

Text reads, What’s the Buzz? With Leo.

Leo says, THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
ARE IMPORTANT POLLINATORS,
BUT THEY ARE ALSO
AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THE MEXICAN HOLIDAY
CALLED "DIAS DE LOS MUERTOS"
WHICH TRANSLATES
TO "DAY OF THE DEAD".

An image of a man wearing black and white face paint like a skeleton appears on one of Leo’s monitors. Her other monitor reads, “Day of the Dead.”

Leo continues, IT'S ALSO KNOWN
AS ALL SOULS DAY.
IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL HOLIDAY
IN MEXICO,
WHERE EVERYONE CELEBRATES
THEIR LOVED ONES
WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY.
OUR CLEVER POLLINATING PALS
ARRIVE IN MEXICO
TO MAKE THEIR HOME
FOR THE WINTER
RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S LIKE OUR MONARCHS LEAVE
JUST IN TIME TO JOIN THE PARTY.
OLÉ!
THE MONARCHS ARE A SIGN
TO THE MEXICAN PEOPLE
THAT THE SOULS OF THEIR
DEPARTED LOVED ONES
HAVE COME BACK FOR A VISIT.
COULD OUR PARTYING POLLINATORS
BE ANY MORE AWESOME?

Vicky, Chloe, and Housten swing butterfly nets in the field of tall grass. Chloe stares at her net.

Chloe says, OH, MY GOSH, I GOT ONE!

Housten says, YOU GOT A MONARCH?

Chloe says, YEAH! GOOD JOB!

Vicky says, CHLOE, THAT'S AMAZING!
YOU NETTED A BUTTERFLY.

A monarch butterfly is inside Chloe’s net.

Chloe says, YEAH.

Vicky asks, ARE YOU READY TO TAG
THIS MONARCH?

Chloe says, DEFINITELY!

Clipboards with pieces of paper showing butterflies, charts, and small dots sit on a table.

Chloe says, THAT'S IT?
THAT'S THE TAG?
BUT IT'S JUST A LITTLE DOT
OF PAPER.

Vicky says, YEAH, EACH OF THESE TAGS
HAS A SPECIAL CODE ON IT
THAT IS GOING TO TELL US
LOTS OF INFORMATION
ABOUT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY
THAT IT'S ATTACHED TO.

A small round tag that reads, “Monarch April 164” is attached to a butterfly’s wing with a toothpick.

Vicky continues, THIS INFORMATION HELPS US
FIND OUT
SO MUCH MORE ABOUT WHERE
THE MONARCHS ARE HEADING
AND HOW WE CAN HELP THEM,
BY PLANTING MORE HABITAT
AND MORE MILKWEED.
IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS
IN THE WORLD.

Housten asks, SO, ANYONE CAN TAG A MONARCH?

Vicky says, WELL, YOU HAVE TO BE
SPECIALLY TRAINED
BECAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW
HOW TO HOLD THEM PROPERLY
WITHOUT INJURING THEM.
BUT ONCE YOU'VE LEARNED THAT,
THEN YEAH,
YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
IN THE PROGRAM, TOO.

Chloe and Housten closely watch Vicky hold a monarch butterfly.

Vicky continues, SO, THE FIRST THING
THAT I LIKE TO DO
IS I LIKE TO HOLD THE MONARCH
BETWEEN MY MIDDLE FINGER
AND MY THUMB.
AND THAT JUST ENSURES
THERE'S NO CHANCE
THAT THE BUTTERFLY
IS GOING TO TRY TO FLY AWAY,
AND UM,
POSSIBLY EVEN HURT ITSELF.
THE OTHER THING
THAT I LIKE TO DO
IS I LIKE TO PUT MY INDEX
FINGER IN FRONT OF ITS FACE
SO THAT IT HAS SOMETHING
TO HOLD ON TO.

(Chloe giggles)

Vicky says, RIGHT?
AND WHAT THE BUTTERFLY DOES
IS WHEN IT PERCHES LIKE THIS,
IT USES ITS LITTLE TOES,
OR TARSI, TO HOLD ON
TO MY FINGER
LIKE IT'S A BRANCH
OR A PIECE OF VEGETATION.
IF YOU OPEN THE WINGS,
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE
TWO LITTLE SPOTS
ON THE HIND WING.
SO, THAT IS WHAT IS GOING
TO TELL YOU
WHETHER THE BUTTERFLY
IS A MALE OR A FEMALE.

Chloe says, OH.

Vicky continues, SO, MALES WILL HAVE THESE
TWO LITTLE SCENT POUCHES
ON THEIR HIND WING,
AND FEMALES WILL NOT.

Two small black spots on the butterfly’s wings are highlighted.

Housten asks, WHERE DOES THE TAG GO?

Vicky says, THE TAG GOES ON THIS
REALLY SPECIAL CELL, HERE,
CALLED THE DISCAL CELL.
IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE
A MITTEN.

Chloe says, HUH.

Vicky applies a tag to the butterfly’s wing.

Vicky says, SO, YOU JUST APPLY A LITTLE
BIT OF PRESSURE,
TO MAKE SURE THAT TAG
IS NICE AND UH,
STUCK ON TO THAT WING
AND THEN,
WE'LL TAKE DOWN A LITTLE BIT
OF INFORMATION
ABOUT THE TAG AND
THE BUTTERFLY.
SO, WE'LL WRITE DOWN
THAT IT'S A MALE
AND THEN,
WE CAN WRITE DOWN ALSO
THAT IT IS A WILD MONARCH.
AND THEN, UNDER "CITY"
WE CAN WRITE DOWN...

Housten says, TORONTO.

Chloe writes on a chart on one of the clipboards.

Vicky says, THE CITY WHERE WE TAGGED IT.

Housten says, SO, NOW IF SOMEONE
FINDS IT,
THEY'LL KNOW THAT IT CAME
FROM HERE?

Vicky says, EXACTLY. SO, SOMEONE WILL
SEE THE TAG
AND HOPEFULLY REPORT
THIS SPECIAL CODE
THAT WE'VE WRITTEN DOWN,
TO MONARCH WATCH,
AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL KNOW
WHERE OUR BUTTERFLY HAS GONE.

(Soft acoustic guitar music)

Chloe and Housten release monarch butterflies from their hands.

Chloe and Housten say, BYE!

Chloe waves.

Chloe says, IT WAS AWESOME TO GET
TO HOLD THE MONARCH.

Housten says, AND EVEN BETTER,
WE'RE HELPING THE RESEARCHERS
PROTECT THEM.

Vicky says, WELL, IT'S A REALLY,
REALLY GREAT PROGRAM,
AND THE MORE THAT PEOPLE KNOW
AND ARE TRAINED ON THE PROGRAM
THE BETTER IT IS FOR MONARCH
BUTTERFLY POPULATIONS.

Housten says, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TIME
FOR A "HIGH FLY."

Vicky, Chloe, and Housten lean over, wiggling their fingers. They stand up and reach their hands high over their heads.

Chloe and Housten say, HIGH FLY!!

(Giggles)

Leo watches Chloe put a butterfly into a net on one of her monitors.

Leo says, THE POLLINHEADS DID
A ROYALLY GOOD JOB TODAY
HELPING OUR MONARCH FRIENDS.
BUT TO SAVE THIS AT-RISK BEAUTY
WE NEED EVERYONE'S HELP.
POLLINHEADS ALERT!

A flower with yellow petals and a blue centre spins in front of Leo. Text reads, Pollinheads Alert!

Leo continues, WANT TO BE A TRUE POLLINATOR PAL
TO THIS ROYAL BUTTERFLY?
PLANT SOME MILKWEED
IN YOUR GARDEN.
THINK OF IT AS CREATING
A NURSERY
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
OF MONARCHS.
AND SERIOUSLY,
WHAT'S MORE FUN THAN A GAME
OF TAG?

Vicky places a tag on a butterfly wing.

Leo says, SEE WHAT I DID THERE?
TAKE YOUR FAMILY
AND YOUR FRIENDS
TO A MONARCH TAGGING WORKSHOP
AND SPEND A DAY HELPING
RESEARCHERS
TAKE CARE OF THESE POLLINATORS.
YOU COULD BECOME A ROYAL
CITIZEN SCIENTIST.

Leo looks at herself in one of the monitors.

Leo says, DANG!
I LOOK AWESOME IN A CROWN!
QUEEN LEO OF THE POLLINHEADS.