The tundra comes to life
The Arctic tundra is often seen as a desolate place. You can walk 750km in a straight line and see no evidence of human activity or large animals. The silence rings in your ears. But programme maker Chadden Hunter discovers that if you time your visit right, the place explodes into life.
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Chadden Hunter watches the amazing transformation of the Barrenlands.
When Chadden arrived at Karrak Lake at the start of the Arctic summer it was empty. But the honking soon became deafening as geese, who'd flown over 3,000 miles from southern USA, arrived and bickered over the best nest spots.
From horizon to horizon the 250km² colony was dotted with thousands of pairs of bright white snow geese.
By early July the chicks hatch and by mid July the adults and goslings head off on a long overland march to the sea, from where the chicks will feed until they're large and strong enough to fly south.
The Frozen Planet team have also been filming breeding birds in the far south. Watch John Aitchison’s film from Bird Island, Antarctica as he gets up-close to a pair of wandering albatrosses.
Published 3 July 2009
Chadden Hunter
