Beluga whales are very curious by nature. When one gets in the water with them to snorkel, whales will trail the boat and come upon a snorkeler being pulled along slowly. It has also been discovered that they are attracted to the human voice, women’s more than men’s for some reason. Music is also a strange attraction for the belugas. Come to Churchill this summer on a Natural Habitat Adventure and discover the underwater lives of beluga whales!
Kal Barteski’s amazing journey in Manitoba culminates in Churchill where she falls in love with the Hudson Bay outpost amidst regal polar bears and the dancing northern lights. Of course curious beluga whales are one of the major draws of the region as well. Enjoy!
Polar bears feasting on a beluga whale carcass in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
This polar bear shot from Churchill photographer Alex De Vries – Magnifico shows how polar bears are evolving in a time when global warming is limiting their ability to hunt seals in the winter season on the Hudson Bay ice. Seals closer to land in summer and beluga whales have become prey when they used to have no fears of being hunted in summer. Evolution at its finest!
This throwback video features the original Sea North Tours founder MIke Macri and his thoughts on the majestic beluga whales of the Churchill estuaries. Mike has since sold Sea North and is “gone fishin” after decades of running the best beluga whale watching outfit in Churchill. I’ve spent many summers with Mike and his family and they are truly missed in the Churchill community. However, thousands of belugas are still returning to Churchill every summer and after interpreting their sounds via a hydrophone, they all miss Mike and the family as well!
Beluga whales in the Churchill River . Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
There’s nothing quite like being out on the Churchill River or Hudson Bay with the beluga whales on a cool, calm and sunny afternoon. The harmony with the water, sky and whales is transcendent. Having spent 10 seasons guiding travelers in Churchill interacting with the belugas, I can tell you without a doubt there are few places that bond humans with nature. Enjoy!
