In July and August when the tundra is brilliant with wildflowers you can watch many birds, including jaegers, ducks, geese and swans.

The bird species list for Cambridge Bay consists of 79 species. Common species seen near the township include Thayer’s Gull, Sabine’s Gull, King Eider, Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers, various shorebirds and Pacific Loon.

Located about 15km northeast of town is Mount Pelly. It can be easily accessed by road. Here, species such as Yellow-billed Loon, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Rock and Willow Ptarmigan, Sandhill Crane, Brant, Red Knot, Peregrine Falcon and Rough-legged Hawk can be seen, along with roaming herds of Muskoxen, Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare and lemmings.

Queen Maud Migratory Bird Sanctuary is Canada’s largest federally protected nature preserve. It is home to one of the greatest concentrations of nesting geese on Earth.

Photo: Jojo Trenholm