Every year, nearly 60,000 beluga whales make their annual migration from the Arctic to the warmer waters of Hudson Bay’s Churchill River estuary to feed, moult and give birth.
This year, on Arctic Sea Ice Day (15 July), Polar Bears International are airing their Beluga Whale Live Cam again, so wildlife-lovers can tune in and watch these playful gentle giants of the sea in action.
Those watching the Underwater Beluga Cam can expect to see dozens of beluga whales playing, swimming, nursing their calves and feeding.
Beluga Cam
The Churchill River estuary is inaccessible in the winter months, but after the thaw, 57,000 belugas make their way along the river in Manitoba to the sub-Arctic Southern Hudson Bay to access the abundant food, which the white whales can enjoy in relative safety, as there are fewer of their predators, such as orcas, around.
“Beluga whales are so curious and many will swim right up to the underwater camera, as they play in the wake of the boat,” says Alysa McCall, Polar Bears International Staff Scientist and Director of Conservation Outreach.
“One of our favourite aspects of the Beluga Cam experience is the hydrophone, which allows people to hear the whales vocalising and communicating with each other. They’re called the ‘canaries of the sea’ for a reason: non-stop chatter. The Above Water camera also allows viewers to put the belugas in context with the shores and surrounding region, as pods of whales meander throughout the river.”
There’s a chance to see other local wildlife, too. “Underwater, viewers may spot different fish species, such as capelin, and possibly even a jellyfish,” says McCall.
“Thanks to these cams, researchers have been able to identify melon comb jellyfish (Beroe cucumis) and common northern comb jellyfish (Bolinopsis infundibulum) in the Churchill River. Viewers could even see a seal if they’re lucky, and, onshore, there’s a good chance of spotting a polar bear along the shoreline. In the summer months, the sea ice has melted so the bears are forced ashore to hang out until the ice refreezes and seal hunting’s possible again. Occasionally, a bear might try its hand, or paw, at beluga hunting, though it’s rarely successful. Over the years, we’ve learned that wildlife cams in Churchill are always full of surprises."
Belugas rely on sea ice for protection from predators and for feeding. The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet. Recent research links the disappearance of Hudson Bay’s sea ice to polar bear survival.
“Better understanding of the beluga whales in this region can contribute to the wider knowledge of what’s happening in Hudson Bay and the Arctic as our world warms,” McCall says.
“Understanding the demographics of beluga pods, and how those may be changing over time, can be one piece of Hudson Bay’s shifting ecology puzzle. Also, by seeing species we didn’t know were in this region, such as the northern comb jellyfish, we can get an insight into changes in water conditions and general ecosystem health.
"It’s more critical than ever to monitor this region as recent research predicts the Southern and Western Hudson Bay polar bears, including the polar bears of Churchill, are likely to become locally extinct if nations fail to meet the goals set in the Paris Climate Agreement. Of course, this would have far-reaching impacts for all species in Hudson Bay and the Arctic, including beluga whales.”
Beluga Bits
Viewers can also get involved via a citizen science project called Beluga Bits. Researchers at the Assiniboine Park Zoo (APZ) have partnered with PBI and Explore.org to examine snapshots from the Underwater Camera in order to gain more understanding of the belugas’ underwater world.
“Beluga Bits involves ‘citizen scientists’ taking snapshots of the whales and alerting researchers to interesting findings,” McCall explains.
“We now get hundreds of thousands of images each year but, thanks to machine-learning and support from the University of Manitoba, this project uses an algorithm that can rapidly sort photos and remove photos that don’t contain whales. This allows the participants in the Beluga Bits project to spend more time classifying whales and helping us answer questions.”
Since Beluga Bits was launched in 2016, over 28,800 community members have engaged on Zooniverse, logging around 20,000 volunteer hours while contributing more than 7.5 million photo classifications.
“Underwater footage can provide a wealth of information about belugas in the Churchill River estuary,” McCall says. “This project has not only helped us understand beluga whales better, but it also offers a unique view into their rich underwater habitat.”
Watch the Beluga Cams now.
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