These photos from Churchill are from local contributor and old friend Katie de Meulles. The northern lights continue to shine in the sub-Arctic skies and these have some different foreground features. With spring coming the birds are starting to appear across the landscape as well. These are some fun shots from northern life near Churchill….enjoy!
Northern lights with shadow of the weir observation tower in foreground. Katie de Meulles photo.
Weir observation tower by the Churchill River with aurora borealis. Katie de Meulles photo.
Old cabin in Churchill, MB. Katie de Meulles photo.
Sign post in Churchill, Mb. Katie de meulles photo.
Pine grosbeak perched on a spruce in Churchill, MB. Katie de Meulles photo.
Red poll taking flight in Churchill. Katie de Meulles photo.
Northern living in Churchill….couch on a sled being pulled by a ski do. Katie de Meulles photo.
This short incredible video of a mother polar bear and her cubs emerging from a winter den site in Wapusk National Parc near Churchill, Manitoba. This short clip highlights the vitality of the cubs and fresh look on the world they have during their first exposure. Nothing much else to say about this priceless look into the polar bear’s world!
As we put the Hudson Bay Quest to rest for another year, here are some more incredible northern lights photos from Nace Hageman ! Enjoy these parting shots from the trail. Churchill is still buzzing from the successful race finish.
Northern lights above the tent. Nace Hagemann photo.
Northern lights over the boreal forest treeline. Nace Hagemann photo.
Northern lights in the boreal forest. Nace Hagemann photo.
Swirling aurora in the Churchill skies. Nace Hagemann photo.
All the gee’s and haw’s have drifted across the tundra upwards to the northern lights have ceased for another year as the 2015 Hudson Bay Quest has finished in Churchill. This year’s champion is Martin Massicotte from Trois Rivieres, Quebec.
2015 Hudson Bay Quest champion Martin Massicotte. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
Martin runs a paving contracting business in Quebec and dreamed of being a dog musher since age eight when he trained the family St. Bernard. In 2003 martin placed 6th in the Yukon Quest, a race that runs 1000 miles from Yukon to Alaska. He has aspired to run the Hudson Bay Quest and the Iditarod in a few years. he can now check off the Quest in a big way…with a first place prize and trophy!
His passion for the sport of dog mushing is summed up succinctly by this quote: “In leisure time, I run dogs, I think about dogs and I talk about dogs!!!”
Congratulations to Martin and all the other hearty mushers that competed in this year’s race. See you all next year!
2015 Hudson Bay Quest winner Martin Massicotte. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
Canadian Rangers from the Lamprey checkpoint won best checkpoint. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
2015 Hudson Bay Quest mushers. Courtesy Hudson Bay Quest.
During our Churchill northern lights adventure the primary focus is nightly viewing of the spectacular aurora. However Natural Habitat always seeks out the most intriguing activities in each region.
Natural Habitat guide Karen Walker brings her groups out to the Churchill Northern Studies Center to take part in a snow sampling demonstration. Snow sampling is one of numerous research projects going on at the center that travelers can participate in. The snowflake is essentially tracked from the time it lands through the pressure the crystals are subjected to over months. These crystals take on many shapes and sizes and create layers bonding to each other in some form. Researchers and scientists working at the center will also give talks about their research to groups of travelers.
Snow sampling at the Churchill Northern Studies Center. Karen Walker photo.
Researcher explaining the snow sampling process to Natural Habitat travelers. Karen Walker photo.
Another activity groups are able to experience is slightly less science based though there is certainly a science to the sport. Curling is an ancient Scottish sport that involves sliding eight 40 lb stones with handles on top the length of the ice sheet. Each team alternates throwing the stones for eight or ten ends or innings. The object is to slide the stones along ice sheets, trying to land them as close to a center bulls-eye as possible. Strategy can become quite complex depending on the score at the time. Blocking and knocking other stones are integral approaches to the sport.
Churchill Curling club participants from Natural Habitat Adventures. Karen Walker photo.
Justin Gibson’s group setting up for northern lights photography along the edge of the boreal forest.
Natural Habitat photographers enjoy the Arctic landscape options while awaiting the nightly aurora displays. Karen Walker photo.
In the Arctic or sub-Arctic there are some birds that become aggressive when threatened near their nesting grounds. The majority of these species are seasonal residents of the bountiful feeding areas around the coastal lowlands. Churchill’s bountiful feeding grounds attract over 200 bird species during the spring and Summer. The Arctic tern is the king of the Arctic air…and for that matter all the air between the migration path pole to pole.
Arctic tern hovering above the nesting grounds. Rhonda Reid photo.
Arctic terns are notorious for pursuing capelin or other small fish stirred up by pods of beluga whales in the Churchill River or Hudson Bay. Their darting, aggressive behavior evokes the urgency of their mission to gain sustenance in the short summer feeding window. After a trip from nearly pole to pole of 35,000 km these birds really don’t have a pause phase. With lifetime accumulation of close to three million kilometers of flight, the life of an arctic tern is surely one of the highest paced of all living organisms. The majority of their lives is spent in the air.
Arctic terns also vehemently protect their nesting grounds which are usually along beaches in the strewn rocks and sand and nestled in the sea grass or tundra. I have personally witnessed near-attacks as well as direct hits on myself and Natural Habitat travelers who wandered too close to the nests. One such strike was to the forehead of a guest posing for a photograph taking the hit from a arrow-like beak right in the forehead. A small stream of blood symbolized the intent of these strong-willed birds. Although at the time the wound caused jaws to drop, the end result was constant laughs throughout the trip within the group. No stitches required!
Arctic tern with capelin in beak. Warwick Sloss photo.
