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.
The main food source in Churchill and surrounding estuaries in the Arctic summer is capelin. What is capelin you might ask? A small fish slightly larger in size though similar in appearance to smelt. Capelin will amass in schools of thousands and move through the water in a massive wave. Beluga whales periodically feed during the capelin run and will focus solely on the process until they are sufficiently sated. When belugas are feeding as a pod they will be completely synchronized in the water and oblivious to any whale watching vessels. Birds such as Arctic terns and Bonaparte gulls are tell tale harbingers of beluga feeding sessions as they hover overhead and dive to capture the fish pushed to the water’s surface. Once feeding time is over belugas will typically return to their curious, gregarious ways and approach boats or kayaks on the water.
Capelin schools are the most plentiful food source that belugas can feed on. The whales also scavenge mollusks and singular organisms in the water but to survive the energy constraints of frigid Arctic waters and stress of navigating ice and shoals, the mass feedings on thousands of capelin ease the strain of the harsh northern conditions.
Beluga whales feeding on capelin in the clear, cold water of the mouth of the Churchill River. Steve Selden photo.
Capelin spawn on the gravelly bottoms of shoreline and rivers close to tide-lines and many typically end up stranded along coastal beaches. During the apex of the fish run beaches can be covered with the small species.
When I first started guiding Churchill Arctic summer trips I fell in love with beluga whales in the Churchill River and out in the Hudson Bay. Every year for ten years I returned pulled by the same force that I felt the whales were pulled by each year. I felt an incredible calm and peace inside after the very first whale trip on the River. Actually, I felt that calmness within ten minutes of being with the whales. Year after year that feeling became stronger as I bonded with the whales through different interactions on the water.
Incredible beluga whale photos are hard to come by from deck level of boats on the Churchill River or Hudson Bay. Timing the surfacing of the whales is a guess at best and quite often the photos come out with a bunch of white humps protruding from the dark seawater. This view from a helicopter captures a unique perspective that places the travelers in the middle of the beluga whale pod and instead of the whales being the main subject, both humans and whales equally share the focus. One of the best shots I’ve ever seen!
Kayakers in Churchill surrounded by beluga whales. Sea North Tours photo.
Alex de Vries – Magnifico took this photo from an ultra light above the Hudson Bay…pretty impressive and gutsy. You can see the ice has broken up in the Churchill River and soon beluga whales will be filling the water in all directions. Enjoy the view!
