0:00:02 > 0:00:04# Gather round, one and all
0:00:05 > 0:00:08# You gotta answer the call
0:00:08 > 0:00:12# Listen up, look around you
0:00:12 > 0:00:16# There's a magical world to explore
0:00:22 > 0:00:27# There's a nature adventure
0:00:27 > 0:00:31# Coming your way soon
0:00:31 > 0:00:35# So come and join us
0:00:35 > 0:00:38# In this Green Balloon
0:00:38 > 0:00:46# And when we fly We're higher than the moon
0:00:46 > 0:00:49# So join us
0:00:49 > 0:00:53# Ah, ah
0:00:53 > 0:00:56# In our Green Balloon. #
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Oh, hello. I was just looking for some birds.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09- Did you spot any yet, Jay?- Not yet but look who I have found.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Oh, yes! Hello. Come on in and let's get started.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17- Hello!- Welcome to the Green Balloon Club.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20- What are you two up to? - We're being Skipper.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22We're copying her when she moves.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25This is what she does when she's excited -
0:01:25 > 0:01:27GIGGLING
0:01:29 > 0:01:32And this is what she does when she's hot -
0:01:32 > 0:01:34SHE PANTS
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- This looks fun, can I join in? - Me too!
0:01:37 > 0:01:42- What about the register?- Oh, yes. I nearly forgot.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Here goes, then. Lily-Rose?
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Aww! Are you still being Skipper, Lily-Rose?
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Yes, I'm Skipper saying, "Hello, pleased to see you."
0:01:55 > 0:01:57So you are! She does that, doesn't she?
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Good. Lily-Rose is here. Ant?
0:02:01 > 0:02:05- Eww!- I'm Skipper when she's very pleased to meet you!
0:02:05 > 0:02:07I like that one!
0:02:07 > 0:02:10What about you, Cat? Are you Skipper too?
0:02:10 > 0:02:12GIGGLING
0:02:12 > 0:02:15I'm Skipper when she's chasing her tail.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19What about Skipper? What kind of Skipper are you being today?
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Both.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Good girl.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Very good, so Skipper's here. Now it's me.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34MAKES A DOGGY SOUND
0:02:36 > 0:02:42- I'm Skipper chasing rabbits!- Ahh. - What about Sky? Are you Skipper too?
0:02:47 > 0:02:48I'm Skipper bowing!
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Ahh, yes, so you are!
0:02:51 > 0:02:55And what about you? What sort of Skipper are you being?
0:02:55 > 0:02:56Eww!
0:03:02 > 0:03:07- Good. That's everyone present.- Shall we do the Green Balloon Club Chant?
0:03:07 > 0:03:09ALL: Yay!
0:03:14 > 0:03:17ALL: We love animals Plants and birds
0:03:17 > 0:03:19We love snails and slugs
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Large and small, we love them all And we never, ever step on bugs
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Cos we are the Green Balloon Club!
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I've noticed something about Skipper in the park.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36She arches her back like this and keeps going very slowly.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39- She does that when she's seen a squirrel?- Yes.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41She's doing "stalking".
0:03:41 > 0:03:44It's when animals creep up on each other to catch them
0:03:44 > 0:03:48and lions and tigers do that to catch their prey.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Skipper loves stalking squirrels,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- but she doesn't catch any. - It's a game for her.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57I can't see any birds today, Jay.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02No, me neither. I think we're flying a bit too high today.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Birds often fly quite low, except when they're migrating.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Oh, what's that down there?
0:04:10 > 0:04:11- BOTH:- Hello!
0:04:11 > 0:04:15- I think it's some Green Balloon Club members.- Oh, yes,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19it's Antoine and Chantel. I think they're bird-watching.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24- Let's hope they have more luck than us. BOTH:- Hello!
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Today we're going to see how many different birds we can see
0:04:28 > 0:04:31for the Big Garden Birdwatch.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41This is our bird table.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46We're filling it up, so we can lots of birds in our garden.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23We always wash our hands after touching the bird feeders.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37We're going to watch the birds from the bedroom window,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40so we don't scare them.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44- On the tree. Can you see him? - Yes, a little bird.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50You need to watch for one hour to see how many different birds we can spot.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57We're going to tick them off on the special chart.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03There's a wood pigeon.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10The birds are playing hide-and-seek. SHE GIGGLES
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Can't find them.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16A blackbird!
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Blackbird.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24There's two bluetits on the feeder.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36I think that's a coal tit.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40He's getting a nut.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Look, there's a female blackbird.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53There's Chantel's robin.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00We've had a great time bird-watching. As well as Chantel's robin,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03we've seen a wood pigeon...
0:07:04 > 0:07:07..two bluetits...
0:07:07 > 0:07:09..two blackbirds...
0:07:11 > 0:07:13..and a coal tit.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Why don't you take part to see how many different birds you can see?
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- BOTH:- Bye-bye!
0:07:23 > 0:07:28That looked fun. I definitely want to do the Big Garden Birdwatch.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31I'm going to get one those sheets off the internet.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33I've got one here.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Oh, wow! Which of those birds have you spotted?
0:07:37 > 0:07:42Well, I've seen most of them, cos I look out for them a lot.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44I put lots of food out for the birds.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48I've never seen a song thrush though. They're a bit more rare.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Are they called that cos they sing a lot?
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Yes, they've got really clear voices.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59They like to sit up high and sing the same song over and over again.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Do you mean a bit like this, Jay?
0:08:02 > 0:08:05BIRD SINGS
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Yes, like that.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Is the song thrush your favourite bird?
0:08:10 > 0:08:12I really like them,
0:08:12 > 0:08:16- but I think my favourites might be the starling.- Why?
0:08:16 > 0:08:18At first sight they look really dull,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22but when you look closely, they're shiny,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25and the feathers shimmer all green and purply.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29They're mimics. They make noises like things around.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31I heard one mimicking a telephone.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35THEY IMITATE A PHONE RINGING Like that!
0:08:35 > 0:08:39I like them cos they live in flocks and fly around together
0:08:39 > 0:08:41making cool patterns in the sky.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Why do they do that?
0:08:43 > 0:08:49- I don't know. Why don't we ask the Ground Crew?- Can I?- Sure.- Thanks.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Have you ever wondered why starlings make shapes in the sky?
0:09:13 > 0:09:16We've got our mission, Ground Crew.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- ALL:- Yeah!
0:09:18 > 0:09:19Let's see what it is.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- What's the picture of?- A bird. - And the mission?
0:09:25 > 0:09:29"Have you wondered why starlings make shapes in the sky?"
0:09:29 > 0:09:33I wonder. First, we've got to find some starlings.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Do you know where the starlings are?
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- Over there.- Over there? Let's have a look then.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45I thought you said you were going to show me some starlings.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49- Why are we on the beach? - Starlings roost on the piers -
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- there and there.- Oh, I see, yeah.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57- So they roost on the ledges and nooks and crannies on the piers?- Yes.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01OK. But, where are they now? Why aren't they here?
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- Because they come out at 3 from finding food.- Ahh.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09So they're out feeding? I think that's exactly right.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Starlings can go up to 20 miles away from their roost.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Hopefully we'll see them going to one of these piers.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21- So what have we got to do now? Sit...- And wait.- And wait. Exactly.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26So, while we're waiting, where do we need to be looking to spot them?
0:10:26 > 0:10:31Their food is over there and that's where they get their food from.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34And they'll come over to roost here.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43Look, look! See them? They're starting to come.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44Oh, yeah!
0:10:44 > 0:10:50They look drunk cos they're going in different positions!
0:10:50 > 0:10:52It keeps moving around, doesn't it?
0:10:52 > 0:10:55And look at these coming in! See above?
0:11:06 > 0:11:10It's kinda like they're shimmering. You see that?
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Ooh! Like a banana!
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- Why do they all come together? - To keep warm?- That's right.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25- There's one other thing. - Cos if they were alone
0:11:25 > 0:11:30and any predators came, he'd just go straight for that one.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34If they're all together, they can confuse the predator.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38That is exactly right. A brilliant answer, well done.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50- They're settled down for the night. I think we'd better go too.- Yeah.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55So there's only one thing left! ALL: Mission complete!
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- And it's back to you in the Green Balloon. Bye!- Bye!- Bye!
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Those starlings are amazing!
0:12:10 > 0:12:13They looked like they were dancing in the sky!
0:12:13 > 0:12:19- They gave me an idea in what we could make.- Oh, what is it?
0:12:19 > 0:12:20A dancing bird!
0:12:20 > 0:12:24What you do is, you get some modelling clay.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27And we're going to do the body first.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32And what you have to do is get three feathers...
0:12:32 > 0:12:38One... Two... Three!
0:12:38 > 0:12:45- And you get white elastic bands. There you go.- Nice long ones.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49And a paperclip. Put the feathers to the side.
0:12:49 > 0:12:56Now, we have to make a hole with the pencil in the clay.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Like that. You get your paperclip...
0:13:02 > 0:13:07And you put the elastic band down the side.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12And it'll go into the middle of the paperclip.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16And then what you do is, you get the paperclip
0:13:16 > 0:13:20and you put that in the hole that you've just done
0:13:20 > 0:13:26and then squeeze it back together to make it nice and firm inside.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28- And then now, this...- It bounces!
0:13:28 > 0:13:32This bounces! Now we have to put the feathers in.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41Keep it one in each side for the wings.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43So it should look like that.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46And then you've gotta put the last feather in
0:13:46 > 0:13:50and you stick that in the back of the body so it is a tail.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- So it should look like that. - Why do birds have a tail?
0:13:54 > 0:13:59I think so it can balance on a branch. Now they need a head.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03You get a little bit of paper from here - here you go,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05and you get your scissors.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10And you cut a little triangle so it looks like a beak.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14The bird won't be able to eat otherwise!
0:14:14 > 0:14:17And then you get another paperclip.
0:14:21 > 0:14:28And you stick it in a hole in the middle of the head
0:14:28 > 0:14:30for the beak to go in.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35Now put your beak in the hole and squish it round the sides
0:14:35 > 0:14:37to make it nice and firm.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42There you go, a beak.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46There.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Now you get some googly eyes...
0:14:52 > 0:14:55And two!
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Two googly eyes.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Now we need to attach the head to the body.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05- Can you help me a bit?- OK. I'm just gonna put my one on.
0:15:08 > 0:15:09Like that.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11And I'll do yours.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17There we go.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Now let the birds dance!
0:15:19 > 0:15:21You've got your birds! Dancing birds!
0:15:21 > 0:15:25I love my dancing bird, it's so funny!
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Me too! But birds aren't the only animals that can dance.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31How about this animal?
0:15:32 > 0:15:36If you happen to see a little creature with a long, slim body,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39a pointed little face,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43and a black tip on its tail, you can count yourself very lucky.
0:15:43 > 0:15:49Because I'm a stoat and although there's quite a few of us around,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52we're very secretive. There are very few people
0:15:52 > 0:15:55who have ever caught a glimpse of a stoat.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00I have chestnut-coloured fur and a pure white chest.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06In winter in Scotland, my stoat cousins' fur turn snow-white.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10So no matter what season it is, we blend into the background!
0:16:10 > 0:16:14I'm a carnivore which means I eat meat.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17I use my good sense of sight,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21smell and hearing to help me hunt for prey.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26I also have razor-sharp teeth and dagger-like claws.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Although I'm very small,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32I can actually hunt animals that are much bigger than me.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34Take rabbits, for example.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39I'm also partial to the odd rat, bird and birds eggs!
0:16:41 > 0:16:44In can also climb trees, you know.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47High up in the treetops!
0:16:47 > 0:16:52Some people say that us stoats can mesmerise our prey
0:16:52 > 0:16:55by performing a hypnotic dance.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Well you can call it what you like, but it seems to be doing the trick!
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Baby stoats are called kits.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26Right now, I'm getting ready to lead my young kits to a safer den.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30OK, kits, all follow me. Keep in line, that's it!
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Let's take cover behind this bush!
0:17:33 > 0:17:37We're all very careful not to get caught out in the open.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40A fox or a buzzard would happily have us for supper.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48There! We made it to our new den.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52And whilst I'm off hunting to feed all those hungry mouths,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55the kits find time to play.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Look, Skipper! A stoat on the website.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Is it the secret picture password?
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Which one do you think it is, Skipper? The dancing starling,
0:18:17 > 0:18:18or the dancing stoat?
0:18:18 > 0:18:21The dancing stoat? Let's go for that one.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Oh, no! Skipper, that was the wrong one!
0:18:28 > 0:18:33It must be the dancing starling...
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Yay, yay! Now we're in!
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Right, now, let's have a look at the wind chimes
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and see if we can dance along with them.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Yay! I feel like having a boogie!
0:18:45 > 0:18:48# All Earth's creatures are beautiful
0:18:48 > 0:18:49# Fill the...
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Can we join in?
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Oh, of course!
0:18:54 > 0:18:59- Wow, I love your birds, they're really cool!- Thanks!
0:18:59 > 0:19:02# All Earth's creatures are beautiful
0:19:02 > 0:19:05# Fill the world with colour And sound... #
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Hang on a minute, what's that?
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Oh! I've spied some Green Balloon Club members.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14It must be time for the Spot Of The Week!
0:19:16 > 0:19:19BOTH: This week's spot is the swan.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Swans are very large white water birds.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28They have a long s-shaped neck
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and an orange beak with black at the top of it.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35You will see them in shallow lakes and ponds,
0:19:35 > 0:19:37slow-running rivers and parks.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Did you know that a male swan is called a cob,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44a female swan is called a pen,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48and a baby swan is called a cygnet.
0:19:48 > 0:19:54Swans like to eat lots of things like plants around the riverbed,
0:19:54 > 0:20:00small fish, frogs and worms.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08BOTH: Now let's see if you can spot some. Bye!
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- Hey, what are you lot doing now? - We're being swans.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- Can't you tell by how graceful we are?- Oh, yes, of course!
0:20:23 > 0:20:27- But I'm going to be a fox stalking after you.- Hiss! Hiss!
0:20:27 > 0:20:31- ALL: Hiss!- Very good swan impressions, everyone!
0:20:31 > 0:20:36But now you'd better change back cos we're coming in to land!
0:20:46 > 0:20:52And whenever we land, it's time for a song!
0:20:57 > 0:21:01# See the leaves in a spin
0:21:01 > 0:21:05# Tossed and blown by the wind
0:21:05 > 0:21:11# It's like they're waving summer Goodbye
0:21:12 > 0:21:17# And the colours change to gold and brown
0:21:17 > 0:21:21# Flying high as they leave the ground
0:21:21 > 0:21:28# Till they're just a speck against the sky
0:21:28 > 0:21:32# I see them flying
0:21:32 > 0:21:38# Watch them fly-i-ing
0:21:38 > 0:21:45# To places that are wonderful And new
0:21:45 > 0:21:49# To see them fly-i-ing
0:21:49 > 0:21:55# Is just like angels on the wind
0:21:57 > 0:22:04# Can we come flying too?
0:22:05 > 0:22:10# See the birds, how high they swoop
0:22:10 > 0:22:14# Full of grace, they loop the loop
0:22:14 > 0:22:21# Living free So high above the ground
0:22:22 > 0:22:26# And they're making circles in the sky
0:22:26 > 0:22:30# Calling out, it's migration time
0:22:30 > 0:22:37# I wish that I could soar beyond the clouds
0:22:37 > 0:22:41# You'd see me fly-i-ing
0:22:41 > 0:22:46# Watch me fly-i-ing
0:22:46 > 0:22:53# In circles just like life that will renew
0:22:53 > 0:22:59# The birds are fly-i-ing away
0:22:59 > 0:23:04# Returning in the spring
0:23:06 > 0:23:10# Yes, they'll come flying
0:23:10 > 0:23:14# Sun will be shining
0:23:14 > 0:23:24# We'll all go flying too... #
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:23:34 > 0:23:37E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk
0:23:39 > 0:23:43- Thanks for coming to fly with us. - You can make your own dancing bird!
0:23:43 > 0:23:48- Or see if you can spot a swan! - Or count birds in your garden!
0:23:48 > 0:23:52- See you next week!- ALL: Bye!