An up close look at what confronting a polar bear in the wild might look and feel like. Scottish filmmaker Gordon Buchanon withstands the tenacious onslaught of a 700lb polar bear trying to sample him for a meal. For over Forty five minutes the bear probed the plexiglass cage in the chilled Arctic air searching for weak spots. Even knowing there’s a solid layer of protection between you and the polar bear can raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck!
Beluga whales trained by biologists to retrieve experimental torpedoes in the 1970’s and 80’s in Arctic cold waters thought of themselves as family to the crew. They often formed deep bonds with their trainers and would stay with them even though they were able to swim freely. The whales, especially one, learned to express their devotion in a quite human-like way over the years!
Beluga whale communicating with his pod in Churchill. Ellen Cuylaerts photo.
Biologist Sam Ridgeway was one of the bilogists working with the whales and had high praise for the mammals.
“They come to think of us as family,” Ridgway said. “And that’s the reason they stay with us. We have no way of completely controlling them, and yet they do their job and come back. They kind of view themselves as part of a team.”
One of the belugas was named Noc (pronounced no-see) and he was particularly bonded to the staff. One day a navy diver thought he heard a command from his supervisor over the intercom while diving but it wasn’t from him. it was actually Noc mimicking human voice after carefully observing the interactions and commands from his loyal crew.
The diver thought he heard a voice order him to get out of the training tank. However his supervisor had not given any such order. Noc had over – inflated his nasal cavity in order to distort the sound he emitted. It was eerily human – like. Following this initial incident, Noc often attempted to communicate with his trainers and even did so on command.
If you listen closely you will hear the underwater dialogue that closely resembles human speech. Many whales and dolphins have this incredible ability to communicate through language. Blue whales have been studied and found to communicate over a 1000 mile stretch of ocean. We have so much more to learn from these incredible animals in the realm of audible communication!
Churchill’s summer wildflowers are in full bloom igniting the tundra with a patchwork of life exuding color. The Arctic wildflowers are incredible and throughout the summer different waves of color emerge. As a guide for the Arctic summer trips, I became immersed in identifying the flowers and educating travelers on the unique qualities of each. The tundra and its colors are one aspect of the amazing Churchill Arctic summer!
Round-leaved orchid, purple paintbrush and bog asphodel. Rhonda Reid photo.
Round – leaved orchid in Churchill. Steve Selden photo.
Churchill wildflowers on the tundra. Steve Selden Photo.
Our northern ecosystems are changing and this time sea ice is not the suspect. International scientists headed up by the University of Edinburgh have results from a comprehensive study on vegetation comprising the Arctic tundra. Research was conducted on 37 sites in nine countries, monitoring shrub growth in the Arctic spanning 60 years. Curiously plant growth is not a good thing.
Arctic shrubs moving further north. Boundless.com photo.
Arctic shrubs, in most cases willows, are growing and moving north at fairly rapid rates. These tundra shrubs act as a barometer of the Arctic and their increased presence is “strong evidence” that climate change is happening. Focus on diminishing sea ice has been the headline for years and this is just auxiliary evidence that global warming is real.
The growth and spreading of these shrubs in itself is not the problem. What occurs and perpetuates increases in temperatures is the way these thicker stands of plant life fuel warming. Taller, thicker growth of shrubs prevents snow from reflecting sun back away from our planet, therefore warming the Earth’s surface. This process leads to soil temperature increase and thawing of permafrost.
Increased shrub stands change nutrient cycling and carbon levels in the soil and thus affect the decomposition rate and then the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere from thawing permafrost. Dr. Isla Myers-Smith was the study co-ordinator for this project and she cautioned on the increased shrub growth; “Arctic shrub growth in the tundra is one of the most significant examples on Earth of the effect that climate change is having on ecosystems.” ( Reported by Press Association July 6, 2015)
The research is documented comprehensively in Nature Climate Change and funded by the International Arctic Science Committee.
Churchill is getting into full Arctic summer swing and the region is opening up and sharing the treasures of the short season of vibrant life. Beluga whales, wildflowers, incredible bird-life and the mystery of the tundra all complete a picture of vibrant life that burns brightly for just about three months. Even polar bears join the party as the summer rolls on. Summer is a very different season then the dynamic fall polar bear season or the winter northern lights season in February and March. The summer is certainly the jewel of the Arctic!
Fireweed is prevalent in Churchill. Steve Selden photo.
Beluga whales in the Churchill River. Sea north Tours photo.
Lesser yellowlegs. Rhonda Reid photo.
Polar bears nestled in the Pre cambrian sheild. Steve Selden photo.
Kayakers surrounded by beluga whales in the hudson Bay. Sea North Tours photo.
