Churchill is warming up these days and soon the Arctic summer will be in full regalia. It is such a hopeful and vibrant time in the north as living things emerge from the bitter cold and snow cocoon. Sure, there will be days where the fierce north winds return with a vengeance of icy cold on its’ heals…but soon the summer will give all the locals the much needed peace of walking outside without ten pounds of extra coverings.
Here are some summer pics to get everyone in the spirit of the Arctic summer. Although it’s short, the days are cherished and deeply appreciated by Churchillians and travelers alike.
Beluga whale on the surface. Steve Selden photo.
Swans on a thermakarst in the Churchill Wildlife Management area. Ed Bouvier photo.
Trolling for beluga whales in the Churchill River.
Hudsonian godwit near the Churchill shore. Rhonda Reid photo.
Ed Bouvier photo.
Wild flowers and precambrian shield. Steve Selden photo.
With the northern summer approaching and fall polar bear season just on the other side, I wanted to share some of the classic photo’s from the archives.Those who make the trek to Churchill in the summer to see the amazing tundra with all its’ wildflowers and micro-environments, thousands of beluga whales, foxes, bears and incredible, diverse bird life. The calm serenity of the foggy, chilly summer makes the isolation in nature all the more healing to the soul. If you have the itch to head north this Summer or Fall, Natural Habitat Adventures has a custom trip for you.
Beluga whales in the clear, cold water of the mouth of the Churchill River. Photo Steve Selden
Summer contrasts the fall when Churchill bustles with action from all the businesses and workers catering to the travelers descending upon the frontier town with hopes of seeing the majestic interactions of the polar bears. Of course there are other sights to take in as well…foxes, Arctic hare, snowy owls and other raptors, the changing weather systems and possibly some aurora borealis displays. However, the main attraction in October and November is Ursus Maritimus…or the polar bear. Perhaps this is why the summer continues to be my personal favorite time to head north…the wide range of sights and discoveries one can find each day. Anyone that loves polar bears and their kingdom must come to the region when the bears are mostly out on the Hudson Bay ice to the north.
Curious polar bear checking out travelers.
Aurora borealis over the boreal forest in Churchill,MB. Brad Josephs photo.
Well built inukshuk and igloo in Churchill. Karen Walker photo.
A polar bear keeps a watchful eye from the shelter of willows.
Avid sled dogs in Churchill,MB. Brad Josephs photo.
A polar bear relaxes and cools in the snow. Colby Brokvist photo.
Here’s an amazing live look at Churchill, Manitoba from the lens of the rotating webcam mounted above the town. Spectacular views of the Churchill River, town center and the Hudson Bay give a year -round view of the frontier sub-arctic town.
With beluga whale season rapidly approaching, take a look at this cool video posted a year ago. A comprehensive look at what one can do out on the Churchill River and Hudson Bay. Not quite 50,000 whales come to the Churchill estuary but there are still plenty to go around in this little known wildlife experience.
The Hudson Bay is packed solid with thick ice and seems to be supporting a healthy seal-feeding season for polar bears. Extreme cold and stormy weather has been pervasive throughout the region this year and should lead to a extended hunting season for bears on the ice surface. Here is the link of the most recent Hudson Bay ice chart from Environment Canada Ice Survey.
Ice accumulating on the Hudson Bay. Karen Walker photo.
Polynas up in the Hudson Straits harbor herds of beluga whales waiting for ice to break up and allow for their spring migration. These open water leads are formed either by warmer currents upwelling from below and keeping an area adjacent to the sea ice unfrozen or from currents and wind conditions that move through the region. They are vital to the survival of narwhals and beluga whales that do not migrate south in the winter.
Beluga whale on the surface. Steve Selden photo.
When the belugas arrive in early summer, almost 2,500 animals will inhabit the coastal waters near Churchill including all the rivers and inlets there. At high tide, the Churchill River becomes a calving estuary stretching nearly eight kilometers up river. These relatively warm waters will make for a calm calving process and infancy. When newborn, calves are a darker almost slate gray. This color, opposing the milky white of the adult stage, is thought to be a subtle camouflage trait for the darker water they inhabit. As they grow and become whiter, the color is camouflage as well when living up north amongst the sea ice of near color. Since adults are more alert and more adept at detecting and eluding predators. Young grey -colored whales enjoy the guardianship and protection of their mothers…swimming tightly in their slipstream.
In summer Churchill has many treasures. Guide Sandra Elvin speaks to a group. Steve Selden photo.
The summer in Churchill is a daily reveal of mystery and treasure hidden in the willows and wildflowers of the tundra and the pre- cambrian rolling boulders of the coastal barrier. Each foray into the wild can produce anything the imagination can bring to mind. A beluga whale carcass nestled in the sea grass out at Halfway Point, a polar bear wandering through the boreal forest looking for some eggs from nesting birds, or even a black wolf lumbering in and out of boggy areas near the town weir out along Goose Creek road. As the summer moves forward, polar bears can be spotted along the coast as they arrive from the ice floes in the bay. Each day, each season produces something new and unexpected. Nothing compares to Churchill in the summer….the pace slows down and time seems to come to a standstill. Of course if you like the chance seeing 40 or more polar bears in a day fall might be the time to visit as well. Natural Habitat Adventures has a wide variety of trips that fit into your travel plans.
