[Woodman]

Canon or Nikon hands down. I like Canon but am man enough to say either will do.

Here is what is going to blow you budget:
You will need a decent telephoto zoom lens. Otherwise you will get a lot of sharp photos with very small subject matter. I would also say to but a polarizing filter (it will reduce the glare and bring out what little color there may be a frozen environment, You need to rotate the polarizer to its most effective angle for the direction you are shooting, so if you get a lens where the barrel rotates when auto-focusing, it will be a real problem for quick shots.
Personal recommendation Canon EOS Rebel T3i (might be a T4i now).

[usconservative]

I would also say to but a polarizing filter (it will reduce the glare and bring out what little color there may be a frozen environment, You need to rotate the polarizer to its most effective angle for the direction you are shooting, so if you get a lens where the barrel rotates when auto-focusing, it will be a real problem for quick shots.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... what? Computers, Cars, Electronics, Amateur Radio I know. Camera's you have to talk to me like a third grader about. ;-)