Churchill Birds: Photographer's Guidelines

June 20-28, 2003

Mosquito and Black Fly Protection

How bad are the biting insects? They range from non-existent to intense; it all depends on the weather at the moment. I hate insect repellant, but I use it in Churchill – always on my clothes and mosquito netting, rarely on my skin. Repellants with DEET are the standard. You generally don’t need more than a 50% DEET formulation; if you apply it to your skin as a cream, 100% DEET is actually harder to use because there is no lotion to help spread it on your skin.

Our group never stopped photographing because of mosquitoes in Churchill. With proper precautions the mosquitoes are a manageable nuisance. (And the locals just ignore them!) Here are some items to consider:

• mosquito headnet, preferably with holes for eyes
• mosquito repellant spray to apply to clothes – e.g. Off!, Cutters
• latex surgical gloves – buy a box from a drugstore. Mosquitoes cannot bite through the latex, but you can easily operate your camera through the thin material. They tear easily, and are hard to re-use because your hands will sweat in them, so bring a supply.
• a "bug shirt" with full head protection (a good one is made by The Original Bug Shirt Company (800-998-9096). Good protection, but they obscure your vision.

In 1999 I found that the combination of latex gloves, a headnet sprayed with repellant with a cutout for my eyeglasses, and clothing sprayed with repellant were sufficient. I brought a Bug Shirt, but did not use it because the integral face net interfered with my vision.

Footwear

Sturdy boots (e.g. leather hiking boots) are useful for navigating the occasional rocky terrain, e.g. around Cape Merry. However, much of Churchill is wet tundra.

For photographers on the tundra, I recommend "Churchill tennis shoes," a.k.a. Hip Waders. These are individual waterproof boots that come up to your crotch. One good pair is Cabela’s "Bog Buster" ($99, 800-237-4444, ) which are quite rugged. I have walked in water in Churchill perilously close to the tops of these waders; it was the only way to get close to some birds. But even without deep water they are generally useful for moving through the tundra, which is a mix of wet tussocks of grass and deeper pools in some areas.

While you can sometimes stay dry in shorter rubber boots (at least 10-12 inches high) by hopping from high spot to high spot, this approach has several disadvantages: It’s hard to hop with a 600 mm f/4 lens and heavy tripod. The high spots are most likely to harbor nests, which you don’t want to crush. The tundra plants are actually quite fragile, so it’s best to avoid stepping on them. And a misstep may suddenly plunge you into water deeper than your boots. But some photographers have used these instead of hip waders.

Note that you may be walking in your footwear for hours a day. Pay attention to fit and comfort, and try walking in them a lot before the trip. (If your neighbors stare, walk at night.) I supplemented mine with cushioned footbeds from a sporting goods store. You may also find you need Moleskin to avoid blisters; better to find this out before you arrive in Churchill.

These waders will also help keep you dry when you kneel on the tundra for photographing. (And mosquitoes can’t bite through the darn things!) For even greater protection, you can consider chest waders. You will sometimes find water that deep to wade into, but they offer added protection if you want to lay down on wet ground for eye-level shots. Their prime disadvantage is that you may sweat in them much more, especially when struggling over distances through the tundra. (You can consider Gore-Tex chest waders, which are more breathable but quite expensive.)

Keep in mind that this water is cold – you will often be walking on permafrost beneath the surface. Allow room for warm socks and long underwear.

A comfortable pair of walking shoes may come in handy when we’re not photographing, especially if your feet are suffering inside your waders.