Guiding Churchill Summer trips for 10 plus years in by the Hudson Bay brought a lifetime of memories. The ones I have of the magnificent Arctic Tern are all fleeting …mostly the fleeting or fleeing was done by travelers and guides whenever such persons ventured near enough to a nesting area of these very protective and territorial birds
Arctic tern eggs…beautifully camouflaged for the tundra. Photo Rhonda Reid.
Let’s face it these creatures have a right to be a little impatient when it comes to relaxing for a couple of months in the Arctic and laying eggs and nurturing their young. With a migratory journey of over 40,000 miles yearly from Arctic in the summer to the Antarctic in winter, they need a break. So, if you plan to get close and …well..photograph eggs like the ones above, be prepared for an attack from above and quite possibly a wound of the head from a pointy, sharp red beak. Trust me…I’ve witnessed the assault first hand a few memorable times!
Arctic tern hovering above the nesting site ready to protect eggs. Rhonda Reid photo.
After all that strenuous travel ,which is reflected quite well in the terns’ physique, nothing is going to prevent the bird from protecting its’ nest. A fluttering , darting combination of moves through the air tends to scare most predators away from the nesting area. If these gyrations fail to create hesitancy on the ground by approaching beings, the tern has no fear and converges on the threat with reckless abandon…pecking at the subject until blood is drawn or a retreat is forced.
Arctic tern sitting on its’ nest on the tundra. Rhonda Reid photo.
Once the area has been cleared…and this usually doesn’t take long…the tern returns to the nest to settle on the eggs. An amazing amount of energy is fuel for the terns’ display….one that is efficient and quite effective. My advice is to observe Arctic terns from a distance on the land. An amazing place to observe terns is the water of the Churchill River where they follow the feeding beluga whales and enjoy a bounty of capelin.
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.
Take a look at the above link to see some amazing footage from Natural Habitat guide Melissa Scott out on the tundra. With the fresh snow and temperatures in the mid 20’s F, wildlife up north is energized.
Guide Karen Walker’s group of MIT alumni began their Churchill trip with a walk out unusually far on Cape Merry, reaching the old battery via the cannons that utilized to protect Fort Prince of Wales across the Churchill River. A few artifacts rest on the rocky battery for visitors to see. Later on at a Parcs Canada presentation in the visitor Center a ranger brought out some newly excavated artifacts..a nice link to the past.
Battery at Cape Merry. Karen Walker photo.
The following day a quiet drive into the lodge for Karen and group all the way to Gordon Point eased everyone into the feel for the tundra. After a nice coffee break, a drive along the Coast Road, provided an arctic fox sighting…a first for the group. One traveler actually saw the fox catch a lemming. Quite an amazing sight.
Arctic fox inquisitive of travelers. Colby Brokvist photo.
Ptarmigan on the tundra. Karen Walker photo,
A sleeping male polar bear was then spotted about a 100 feet away, posed perfectly, looking right at the group aboard their rover The sun cast beautiful light on the very clean, white bear, highlighting his coarse hair with a warm glow. Eating lunch while all the while observing a bear in the Arctic is a rare opportunity for sure. After lunch it decided to roll over on its back and roll around playfully to the groups delight of the group. A nap followed to conserve energy.
Precambrian sheild of Cape Merry. Karen Walker photo.
Traveling a little further on the coast road revealed another bear walking along a pond slightly ahead of the rover. It continued walking toward the rover while another bear did the same further off in the distance. The first bear came within 10 feet of the vehicle and the bear that was more distant followed along the path of the first bear and also came close to the back observation deck before heading off. They were both healthy adult bears.
Later on, heading back to launch, the group came upon the two bears along the trail. One provided a road block of sorts slowly ambling along in front of the rover. Eventually, all three bears were at a distance in a row. Another bear was spotted, so four bears were in range in the area. Quite an enjoyable day in the CWMA.The day’s changeable weather provided an exciting backdrop for the action. From overcast to sideway blowing snow, to sunshine, to overcast, back to sun. A little wind as well provided even more color to the day.
Local guide and photographer Rhonda Reid caught some of the action on the Churchill River recently. These are fresh from the cold water ( 42 F roughly in the mouth area of the river) up north …a preview of more to come.
Summer in Churchill attracts all kinds of marine and avian life to the Hudson Bay and Churchill River…an incredible bounty of life swirling in the air and water. Here’s some amazing photo’s to get everyone excited about traveling up to Churchill this Summer! Natural Habitat’s Arctic Summer journeys begin soon. Stay posted to follow their sightings and discoveries.Enjoy!
Natural Habitat guide Sue Zajac will be heading to Churchill next monday with the first Arctic Summer group of the season. Cool weather and clear skies are predicted for the week and the landscape should already be washed in some wildflower colors. The short growing season provides for a frenetic blast of summertime changing palettes. This backdrop coupled with the varied wildlife surprises constantly revealing themselves makes for incredible experiences every day of the trip. Can’t wait to see what unfolds these next two months!
The Churchill River has cracked its’ icy surface into chunky bergs that cruise in and out of the mouth with the swift currents connecting with the Hudson Bay. The annual Spring break-up opens the estuary to sows with baby calves who migrate south each year to enjoy the bounty of food and comfort of the warm water of the inner river. Males swim in mini pods feasting on capelin all across the massive river. The massive white ice vessels will soon be supplanted by graceful shining belugas gliding effortlessly through the frigid brackish water. Churchill’s Arctic summer is almost here.
These recent photos by Churchill local and Natural Habitat guide Rhonda Reid illustrate the sublime transition and rebirth of the Churchill River this Spring.
