Arctic+Fauna+&+Flora

=Arctic Fauna & Flora=

Baffin Region Wildlife
 Baffin Island has both year-round and summer visitor wildlife. On land, examples of year-round wildlife are [|barren-ground caribou] ** Barren-ground Caribou Summary **

** Barren-ground Caribou ** are a subspecies of caribou that are found mainly in the Canadian territories Nunavut and the Northwes... , [|polar bear] ** Polar Bear Overview **

The **polar bear**, also known as the **white bear**, **northern bear**, or **sea bear**, is a large bear native to the ... , [|arctic fox] ** Arctic fox **

The **arctic fox**, also known as the **polar fox**, is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere.... , [|arctic hare] ** Arctic Hare **

The **Arctic Hare** is a hare which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats.... , [|lemming] ** Lemming **

** Lemmings ** are small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic.... and [|arctic wolf] ** Arctic Wolf **

The **Arctic Wolf**, also called **Polar Wolf** or **White Wolf**, is a mammal of the Canidae family, and a subspecies of th... .

[|Barren-ground caribou] ** Barren-ground Caribou Summary **

** Barren-ground Caribou ** are a subspecies of caribou that are found mainly in the Canadian territories Nunavut and the Northwes... herds that migrate in a limited range from northern Baffin island down to the southern part in winter, even to [|Frobisher Bay] ** Frobisher Bay **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Frobisher Bay ** is a relatively large inlet of the Labrador Sea in the southeastern corner of Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> peninsula, next to [|Resolution Island] ** Resolution Island (Nunavut) **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Resolution Island ** is one of the Canadian arctic islands in Nunavut, Canada....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> and migrate back north in the summer.

[|Polar Bear] ** Polar Bear **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **polar bear**, also known as the **white bear**, **northern bear**, or **sea bear**, is a large bear native to the ...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s can be found all along the coast of Baffin Island, but are most prevalent where the [|sea ice] ** Facts About Sea ice **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Sea ice ** is formed from ocean water that freezes....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> is located as [|pack ice] ** Sea ice **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Sea ice ** is formed from ocean water that freezes....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , where their major food source — [|ringed seal] ** Ringed Seal Summary **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Ringed Seal** or **Jar Seal** is an earless seal inhabiting the Arctic coasts....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s (jar seal) and [|bearded seal] ** Bearded Seal **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **bearded seal** or **square flipper seal**, is a medium-sized seal that is found in and near to the Arctic Ocean....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s — lives. Polar bears mate approximately every year with from one to three cubs being born around March. Female polar bears may travel 10-20 km (6-12 mi) inland to find a large snow bank where they dig a den in which to spend the winter and later for giving birth.

Visit National Geographic Footage [|Polar Bear vs Walrus Arctic fox]


 * Arctic fox **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **arctic fox**, also known as the **polar fox**, is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> that can usually be found where polar bears venture on the [|fast ice] ** Fast ice **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Fast ice ** is sea ice that has frozen along coasts along the shoals, or to the sea floor over shallow parts of the continen...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> close to land in their search for seals. Arctic foxes are scavengers, and often follow polar bears to get their leavings. On Baffin Island, Arctic foxes are sometimes trapped by [|Inuit] ** Inuit **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Inuit ** is a general term for a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic coasts of Siberia, Alask...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , but there is not a robust fur industry.

[|Arctic hare] ** Arctic Hare **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Arctic Hare** is a hare which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> are found throughout Baffin island. Their fur is pure white in winter and molts to a scruffy dark grey in summer. Arctic hares, besides lemmings are a primary food source for Arctic foxes and Arctic wolves.

[|Lemming] ** Lemming **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Lemmings ** are small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s are also found throughout the island, and are a major food source for Arctic foxes, Arctic wolves and the [|snowy owl] ** Snowy Owl **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Snowy Owl** is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> . In the winter, lemmings dig complicated tunnel systems through the snow drifts in order to get to their food supply of dry grasses, and [|lichen] ** Lichen **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Lichens ** are symbiotic associations of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner that can produce food for the lichen from sunli...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s.

The [|Arctic wolf] ** Arctic Wolf ** <span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Arctic Wolf**, also called **Polar Wolf** or **White Wolf**, is a mammal of the Canidae family, and a subspecies of th...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> is also a year-round resident of Baffin Island. Unlike the grey and brown wolves in the southern climes, Arctic wolves often do not hunt in packs, although a male-female pair may hunt together.

In the water (or under the ice) the year-round visitors are mainly the ringed seal.

The [|ringed seal] ** Ringed Seal **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Ringed Seal** or **Jar Seal** is an earless seal inhabiting the Arctic coasts....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> is a year-round resident of Baffin Island, where it lives off-shore within 8 km (5 mi) of land. During the winter, it makes a number of breathing holes through ice up to 8 ft thick by visiting each one often, and keeping the hole open and free from ice. In March, when a female is ready to whelp, she will enlarge one of the breathing holes that has snow over it, and create a small "igloo" where they whelp one or two pups. Within three weeks the pups are in the water and swimming. During the summer, ringed seals keep to a narrow territory approximately 3 km (2 mi) along the shoreline. If pack ice moves in, they may venture out 4-10 km (2½-6 mi) and follow the pack ice, dragging themselves up on an ice floe to take advantage of the sun.

Summer land visitors to Baffin Island all have wings and all come to nest. Baffin Island is one of the major nesting destinations from the Eastern and Mid-West flyways for many species of migrating birds. Waterfowl include [|Canada goose] ** Canada Goose **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

For the Canadian outerwear manufacturer Canada Goose see Canada Goose...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , [|snow goose] ** Facts About Snow Goose **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Snow Goose** is a North American species of goose....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> and [|brent goose] ** Brent Goose **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Brent Goose**, a goose of the genus //Branta//, is known in North America as **Brant**....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> (brant goose). Shore birds include the [|phalarope] ** Phalarope **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The name **Phalarope** refers to any of three species of slender-necked shorebirds in the genus //Phalaropus// of the bird famil...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , various [|wader] ** Wader **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Waders **, called **Shorebirds** in North America, are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-fo...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s (commonly called sandpipers), [|murres] ** Guillemot **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Brnnich's Guillemot**, or **Thick-billed Murre**, //Uria lomvia//, is a bird in the auk family....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , and [|plover] ** Plover Overview **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Plovers ** are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily **Charadriinae**....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s. Three gull species also nest on Baffin Island: [|glaucous gull] ** Glaucous Gull **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Glaucous Gull**, //Larus hyperboreus// is a large gull which breeds in the arctic regions of the northern hemisphere and t...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , [|herring gull] ** Herring Gull **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Herring Gull**, //Larus argentatus//, is a large gull which breeds across North America, Europe and Asia....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> and [|ivory gull] ** Ivory Gull **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Ivory Gull**, //Pagophila eburnea//, is a small gull, the only species in its genus....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> .

Long-range travellers include the [|arctic tern] ** Arctic Tern **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Arctic Tern** is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , which migrates from [|Antarctica] ** Antarctica Summary **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Antarctica ** is the southernmost continent and encompasses the South Pole....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> every spring. The variety of water birds that nest here include [|coot] ** Coot **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **coots** are medium-sized water birds which are members of the rail family....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s, [|loon] ** Loon **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **loons** or **divers** are a type of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s, [|mallard] ** Mallard **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Mallard**.jpg|FemaleImage:Female_mallard_with_ducklings.jpg|Female with young ducklings...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s, and many other duck species.

Water species that visit Baffin Island in the summer are:

[|Harp seal] ** Harp Seal **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Harp Seal**, is a marine mammal of the family Phocidae that is found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s (or saddle-backed seals), which migrate from major breeding grounds off the coast of [|Labrador] ** Labrador **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Labrador ** is a region of Atlantic Canada....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> and the south-east coast of [|Greenland] ** Greenland **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Greenland ** is a self-governed Danish territory....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> to Baffin Island for the summer. Migrating at speeds of 15–20 km/h (9-12 mph), they all come up to breathe at the same time, then dive and swim up to 1–2 km (0.6-1.2 mi) before surfacing again. They migrate in large pods consisting of a hundred or more seals, to within 1–8 km (0.6-5 mi) of the shoreline, which they then follow, feeding on [|crustacean] ** Crustacean **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **crustaceans** are a large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum ....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s and fish.

[|Walrus] ** Walrus **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Walruses ** are large semi-aquatic mammals that live in the cold Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> , which actually do not migrate far off land in the winter. They merely follow the "fast ice", or ice that is solidly attached to land, and stay ahead of it as the ice hardens further and further out to sea. As winter progresses, they will always remain where there is open water free of ice. When the ice melts, they move in to land and can be found basking on rocks close to shore. One of the largest walrus herds can be found in the [|Foxe Basin] ** Foxe Basin **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Foxe Basin ** is a shallow portion of Hudson Bay, Canada, located between Baffin Island and the Melville Peninsula....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> on the western side of Baffin Island.

[|Beluga] ** Beluga **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Beluga Whale** or **White Whale** is an Arctic and sub-arctic species of cetacean....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> or white [|whale] ** Whale **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The term //whale// is ambiguous: it can refer to all cetaceans, to just the larger ones, or only to members of particular families...<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s migrate along the coast of Baffin Island as some head north to the feeding grounds in the [|Davis Strait] ** Davis Strait **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Davis Strait ** lies between mid-western Greenland and the Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> between Greenland and Baffin Island, or into the [|Hudson Strait] ** Hudson Strait **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

** Hudson Strait ** links the Atlantic Ocean to Hudson Bay in Canada....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> or any of the bays and estuaries in between. Usually travelling in pods of two or more, they can often be found very close to shore (100 m, 300 ft, or less), where they come up to breathe every 30 seconds or so as they make their way along the coastline eating crustaceans.

[|Narwhal] ** Narwhal **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Narwhal** is an Arctic species of cetacean with a body similar to that of a Beluga whale and Irrawaddy Dolphin....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> s, which are known for their long, spiraling tusks (males only), can also be found along the coast of Baffin Island in the summer. Much like their beluga cousins they may be found in pairs or even in a large pod of ten or more males, females and newborns. They also can be often found close to the shoreline, gracefully pointing their tusks skyward as they come up for air. When they first arrive, the males arrive a few weeks ahead of the females and young.

The largest summer visitor to Baffin Island is the [|bowhead whale] ** Bowhead Whale **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

The **Bowhead Whale**, also known as **Greenland Right Whale** or **Arctic Whale**, is a marine mammal of the order Cetacea....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> . Found throughout the Arctic range, one group of bowhead whales are known to migrate to the Foxe Basin, a bay on the western side of Baffin Island. It is still not known whether they visit for the lush sea bounty or to [|calve] ** Calf **<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; display: none; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-hide: all; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;">

A **Calf** is the young of an animal....<span style="border-right: black 1pt solid; padding-right: 8pt; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 8pt; background: white; padding-bottom: 8pt; border-left: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 8pt; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt;"> in the Foxe Basin.

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 * Arctic Flora [[image:250px-Mountainavens2.jpg width="159" height="151" align="left" caption="Mountainavens"]] [[image:230px-Hjortron.jpg width="152" height="152" caption="Hjortron"]] [[image:200px-ScotsPine_shoot.jpg width="223" height="267" align="left" caption="Scotspine shoot"]][[image:250px-Purpsaxifrage2.jpg width="190" height="271" caption="Purpsxifrage"]] **=====