A Walk Among polar Bears
In case you missed Sunday’s piece about Churchill and the polar bears on CBS Sunday Morning, here it is. The footage of the region is spectacular! Enjoy
Whimbrels in Churchill: Tracking a Long-distance Migrant
This short documentary on Whimbrels in Churchill is a wonderfully concise and informative look into how these amazing shorebirds are tracked, trapped and studied across the bountiful tundra of the north country. This video was a production of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Multimedia Department for use in its undergraduate thesis project. It’s a great inside look at the dedication bird researchers have when studying and documenting these creatures. Churchill’s Arctic Summer is an incredible open air laboratory
Gyrfalcon Visits Northern lights Camera
A beautiful gyrfalcon perched on the explore.org camera mount located atop the Churchill Northern Studies Center. Apparently this has been a regular stopping station for the raptor as explore.org has documented a dozen visits already this season. This rare close up view is amazing! It’s hard to overshadow the incredible northern lights displays that have graced the northern skies above Churchill this February though this just might!
A Summer Day for a Polar Bear
We have replaced Thursday’s video post of Inuk guides working for Arctic Kingdom. Upon receiving information from a trusted source we have learned that the group encourages baiting and herding bears for the benefit of photographers. This is an unconscionable practice as it not only exploits and harasses the polar bears but jeopardizes their lives by placing them in strenuous situations where they could be shot if they approach too closely. The human interaction also breaks down the natural barrier between the animals and humans which could cause life or death situations later on.
This video shows a typical summer day for a polar bear in the sub Arctic!
Churchill Video of the Week – Belugas
Check out this pretty informative video about beluga whales. The narrative is a bit pedantic though filled with tons of facts about the species. This beluga 101 footage and narration is a great primer for anyone considering travelling to Churchill this coming summer. I guarantee you will want to return after one trip to the beluga mecca. The western Hudson Bay is a prime destination for belugas in summer as there are multiple tributary rivers where the whales can travel up-river to warm waters. The Churchill River is teeming with over 2,000 belugas from June to late August though his year some whales lingered until October. The experience of being surrounded by pods of belugas compares to none other!
Stunning Arctic Fox Hunting Video
Churchill and the Arctic are prime territory for Arctic fox and their hunting habits. Their ability to sense their prey under the snow and “dive bomb” the location is uncanny. Churchill currently is experiencing lower numbers of Arctic fox due to some unethical trapping done last winter as well as a cyclical drop in lemming population in the area. They will return in higher numbers as they always do and meanwhile the red fox population is up and healthy. We should start to see more Arctic Fox as early as this winter as long as the trappers don’t repeat last years travesty!
