Caribou River Crossing — Mackenzie Delta Migration
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The Bathurst caribou herd in river crossing formation on the Mackenzie Delta during autumn migration — thousands of animals in the water simultaneously, the river surface covered with antlered heads and churning hooves.
Description
The Bathurst caribou herd’s autumn migration in the Northwest Territories produces river crossing events of extraordinary scale — the herd of several hundred thousand animals funnels through specific crossing points on the Mackenzie river system, the accumulated animals creating crossings of 30 minutes or more with animals continuously in the water. This image was made from a helicopter during an authorised wildlife survey, the altitude of 60 metres allowing full frame coverage of a crossing in progress at a river channel approximately 400 metres wide. The river surface between the banks is covered with the heads and antlers of crossing animals — the males’ antlers visible as a forest of branching forms above the water surface, the smaller antlers of females and yearlings creating a secondary pattern. The leading animals are already on the far bank while the trailing animals are still entering at the near bank.
