by Steve Selden | Apr 5, 2016 | Videos
Enjoy this journey through the Arctic with wildlife photographer Vincent Munier. This Short Film Showcase highlights some incredible videos created and focused on bountiful Arctic wildlife by filmmakers selected by National Geographic editors.Enjoy!
by Steve Selden | Nov 4, 2015 | Churchill News
Churchill’s polar bear season is running along smoothly and bear counts are increasing daily. The hudson Bay has a buffer of land – fast ice that will continue to expand with cooler temperatures. Northern lights have been sharing the spotlight with polar bears so far this season with incredible shows over the last few nights. Check out these tantalizing northern lights photos by Drew Hamilton!
Northern lights above the inukshuk in town. Drew Hamilton photo.
Last night had a high rating of probability, six, which is very infrequent according to Natural Habitat Adventures guide Eric Rock. Natural Habitat adventures Guides in Churchill expressed that last nights lights were some of the best they have ever seen in the north. Northern lights could be seen as far south as the northern united states with fascinating displays reported from many.
Tantalizing northern lights in the Churchill sky. Drew Hamilton photo.
Churchill’s main northern lights season occurs in February and March with increased probability of seeing the spectacle. Since the Hudson Bay and Churchill River are frozen solid at that time of year, night skies tend to have more cloudless nights without water being drawn up from the Hudson Bay by prevailing north winds. These amazing displays are a bonus for travelers seeking out the polar bears and other Arctic wildlife of the Churchill region.
Natural Habitat Adventures travelers by the inukshuk under aurora. Drew Hamilton photo.
Northern lights from the boreal forest. Drew Hamilton photo.
Boreal forest view of the northern lights. Drew Hamilton photo.
by Steve Selden | Apr 22, 2015 | Churchill Photography
In honor of Earth Day churchillpolarbears.org is requesting submissions of your favorite polar bear or other Arctic wildlife photos.You can post or share to Churchill Polar Bears Facebook page. In addition we request that you also include a short description of the photo as well as an idea for conserving energy as a means to fight global warming. We will publish them on the site over the coming months and give photographer credit for all images. The challenge is to raise global warming awareness and the affects on polar bears. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day and take a pledge to make this Earth year with stimulating ideas on how to protect the planet!
Here are some of our favorite images from Churchill celebrating the pristine wild of the sub- Arctic region!
Polar bear on the Hudson Bay coast. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Polar bear cubs with mother by the coast of Hudson Bay. Kurt Johnson photo.
Polar bear greeting travelers. Natural Habitat Adventures photo.
Polar bear sow and cub out near Halfway Point. Stephanie Fernandez photo.
Polar bear looking for a free lunch. Brad Josephs photo.
Early season photo of a sleepy polar bear. Paul Brown photo.
by Steve Selden | Oct 22, 2014 | Churchill Photography
Natural Habitat outdoor Adventure guide Colby Brokvist calls NatHab’s Town and Tundra Adventure tour the “Ultimate Trip”! Encompassing both ends of the region’s diverse spectrum, travelers to Churchill see it all. Wildlife and culture…sometimes the two even blend together in the frontier town on the Hudson Bay.
Polar bear resting on a rock in Churchill. Colby Brokvist photo.
“We had a great time being immersed in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, which is the best part of the lodge trips. And, we had plenty of time in town to learn about the area’s culture and history” states Colby. Out at the Tundra Lodge the late day action was heated. “This week, the best sparring took place in the evenings once the town groups had gone in, a real treat for us.” reported Colby. The group finally had to sit for a late dinner after watching the bears for about 45 minutes. The polar bears continued to put on a tremendous show while the group took it all in through the windows while enjoying a gourmet meal and a glass of wine.
Two polar bears sparring near the tundra Lodge. Eric Rock photo.
The group also had some stellar bird sightings including four Snowy Owls and two Gyrfalcons- one of each color phase. “The white-phase Gyrfalcon did a close fly-by of our rover deck and it was easy to see why this is North America’s largest true falcon!”, wrote colby. Several sightings of arctic hare filled out the Arctic wildlife checklist.
Red fox in Churchill. Brad Josephs photo.
In town, their luck continued with Arctic foxes out at Cape Merry, along with another Arctic hare and red fox. “One of my favorite parts of the early-season trips is getting on the ground out at the cape and exploring. Devoid of the snow and ice of late-season trips, we were able to find and sample dry-ground cranberries and crowberries”, stated Colby. The group learned about the importance of the colorful moss and lichen micro-communities and picked the cotton-like seeds from shrub willows, used by local Inuit as oil lamp wicks.
Lichen on a rock lying in the tundra. Brad Josephs photo.
Another highlight was finding a recently killed Canada Goose, perhaps a red fox kill. Among the remains was a leg-band that indicated this bird was part of a research study. The group turned in the band to Parks Canada so that they could add the find into the research database. “We’re hoping to hear more from them about the life and times of that goose”, reported Colby.
Topping off the trip was a visit to the Polar Bear Compound, where 10 polar bears are currently incarcerated, to view a bear lift of a small adolescent bear. Another lift just yesterday transported a sow and two cubs about 40 kilometers north. Check out this video of yesterday’s airlift!
Shipping news: At the port, the 14th ship of the season left a few days ago and two more are expected before the pack ice begins to clog up the routes in the Hudson Bay for the winter.
by Steve Selden | Oct 18, 2014 | Churchill Photography
A fast start to polar bear season 2014 has excited
Natural Habitat guides and travelers sighting polar bears and other Arctic wildlife all over the tundra of the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA).
Polar bear resting in the rocks.
Not to be outdone, although yearly, they clearly are, elevated numbers of
ptarmigan scurried across the tundra…slipping in and out of the cover of willow stands. Guide Elise and group enjoyed the wide expanse of the land dotted by the flightless birds and then headed over to the Tundra Lodge where sparring bears gained widespread approval of wide-eyed onlookers aboard the polar rover.
Another male polar bear on approach and one lounging out on the point beyond the lodge nibbling on grass were some bonus sightings for the early season group.
Overall it was an “incredibly diverse day of sun, snow and varying temperatures” according to Elise.
Two polar bears spar in front of a pond, Brad Josephs photo,
A lurking bear close to the school today might have been the same bear to inspire cracker shots from Manitoba Conservation officers last night.
Come see the polar bears…King of the Arctic in Churchill, Manitoba with Natural Habitat Adventures.
