Area: 1513.74 km2
Latitude: 58.648 N
Longitude: 93.888 W
The Churchill & Vicinity IBA is located in and around the town of Churchill, Manitoba, bordering on Hudson Bay. This large IBA is extremely flat and is comprised of various habitat types. Black spruce forests in its southern area give way to coastal tundra in the north, and estuarine habitat exists where the Churchill River meets Hudson Bay. Located in the subarctic, long cold winters and short mild summers are typical. Churchill may be a terrific spot for birding, but it is most famous as the “Polar Bear capital of the world”. Polar Bears are most frequently seen during October–November as solid ice forms along the coast. Explore the IBA by car or on foot and you might also spot Arctic Hare, Arctic fox, Wolverine, Moose, Wolves, and other small mammals. Visitors are urged to stay safe and respect the space occupied by wildlife.
Globally significant congregations of waterfowl and migratory landbirds occur in this IBA, along with nationally significant abundances of threatened species. The Churchill area is known across North America for the tundra breeding shorebirds and pond or marsh breeding waterfowl that can be seen here during June–September, the most numerous (and perhaps most famous) of these being the Snow Goose. In 2011, 100,000 Snow Geese were observed flying through the area during spring migration! Other notable species include Black Scoter which pass through in significant numbers in spring and smaller numbers of White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, and Harlequin Ducks. Red-throated Loons migrate along the Churchill River in significant numbers, with 440 counted on a single day in 2010.
A diversity of gulls, terns, jaegers, and landbirds frequent the Churchill & Vicinity IBA; the area is among the most important in North America for breeding Little Gull, Sabine’s Gulls can be seen migrating along the Churchill River in early June, Long-tailed Jaegers are seen in most years and Parasitic Jaegers breed here, and as many as 6,000 Arctic Tern have been counted in a single day during spring migration. A few of the many landbird species present here include the Peregrine Falcon, Willow Ptarmigan, and Snow Bunting.
See below for maps on where to find birds, stories relating to Churchill & Vicinity IBA, and priorities for monitoring.
Where to bird:
- Granary Pond and Cape Merry can be surveyed on foot; look for Scoter spp., Gull spp., Common Eiders, and Terns
- Along the Churchill River and Launch Road for shorebirds
- Hydro Road (situated in marshy habitat)
The IBA covers a large area and it will take several days to cover if you intend to see most of it.
When to bird:
- The best time to see birds in Churchill is during May–August
Due to the remote location of this IBA, visitors must plan ahead to book travel and accommodations. The small town of Churchill can be reached exclusively by plane or train as there are no serviceable roads for cars.
