Polar Bears of Churchill: Nov 02—08, 2009

Polar Bears — Photo: Barry Zimmer

Huge sparring males, mothers with tiny twin cubs, giant bears sleeping in the snow: the greatest seasonal concentration of Polar Bears in the world along southwest Hudson Bay makes for one of the most memorable wildlife viewing experiences anywhere.

With the coming of winter, Churchill changes character. The tundra is snow-covered and nearly all the shorebirds have migrated south. This is the time of year for polar bears. For several weeks each fall there are more polar bears in the Churchill area than in any other place in the world. This tour will spend four days in Churchill, three aboard Tundra Buggies in the Hudson Bay coastline area, where you will see numbers of these magnificent creatures including mothers with cubs, enormous males (often some play-fighting), and enjoy very close views from the Tundra Buggy.

The number of bird species is small, but the species that remain are spectacular and often include such specialties as Gyrfalcon, Snowy Owl, and Willow Ptarmigan, as well as Snow Buntings, Common Eiders, and Purple Sandpipers. This tour is ideal for photographers because the bears and other Arctic species such as Arctic fox, red fox, and Arctic hare are often seen at very close range.

Very good accommodations; easy, non-strenuous walking; three days of touring aboard Tundra Buggies; cold weather conditions require adequate warm layering.

Visit Harold and Paula Ables website, www.imagesbyables.com for a wonderful look at VENT's 2006 Polar Bears of Churchill tour!