Email: birdtours [at] sasktel.net
Phone: 306 [then] 652 [then] 5975
Table of Contents
Bird Photography
CLICK HERE for details about Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop
Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions are offered near sunrise and sunset on a daily basis in September and October.
CLICK HERE for details.
Upcoming Bird Photography Workshops
Click on the title for more information.
- Sandhill Crane Bird Photography Workshop
October 12 – 14, 2024 - Snowy Owl Bird Photography Workshop
December 29 – 31, 2024 - Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl Bird Photography Workshop
December 31 – January 2 - Snowy Owl Bird Photography Workshop
February 17 – 19, 2025 - Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl Bird Photography Workshop
February 19 – 21, 2025
Bird Photography Workshop Leader:
Boyd Coburn
Upcoming Bird Photography Tours and Sessions
Click on the title for more information.
- Sandhill Crane Sunrise and Sunset Photography Sessions
Daily: August, September and October - November 4: Blackstrap Waterfowl Photography & Viewing Tour
- December 1 – 13: Private Snowy Owl Photography Tours
- December 10: Snowy Owl Half-Day Photography Group Tour
- December 18 – 22: Private Snowy Owl Photography Tours
- December 18 – 22: Private Great Gray Owl & Hawk Owl Photography Tours
- December 22: Snowy Owl Half-Day Photography Group Tour
- December 23: Snowy Owl Photography Full Day Group Tour
- December 27: Chickadee Photography & Viewing Tour
- December 27: Snowy Owl Half Day Photography Group Tour
- January 3 – 10: Private Snowy Owl Photography Tours
- January 2 – 26: Private Great Gray Owl & Hawk Owl Photography Tours
- February 3: Great Gray Owl & Northern Hawk Owl Photography Group Tour
- February 10: Snowy Owl Photography Full Day Tour
- February 11 – 16: Private Snowy Owl Photography Tours
- February 11- 16: Private Great Gray Owl & Hawk Owl Photography Tours
- February 23: Snowy Owl Half Day Photography Tour
- February 24 – 25: Great Gray Owl & Northern Hawk Owl 2-day Group Tour
- February 26 – 29: Private Snowy Owl Photography Tours
- February 26 – 29: Private Great Gray Owl & Hawk Owl Photography Tours
CUSTOM BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
MAY – AUGUST
WHERE TO PHOTOGRAPH BIRDS IN SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA?
Use our professional photography blind to take photos and videos of shorebirds and other water birds in and near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Custom Bird Photography Tour Description
You may take photos and videos of birds using our special professional bird photography blind (tent). This TRAGOPAN Hokki V3 blind is ideal for obtaining images of shorebirds and waterfowl at eye level for a unique perspective. Its low profile means the birds ignore you and there is minimal shadow cast by the blind. Click Here to view a review video about this bird photography blind.
We will drive to a location near Saskatoon where we can set up our special bird photography blind at the edge of a pond, slough, lake or marsh. While you lie inside the blind, some birds may wander close by allowing you a chance to obtain excellent high quality photos and videos. Due to its low profile, your photos will show images of birds from the perspective of other birds.
Note: Smoking and eating is prohibited while using the blind.
- Morning Tour: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Afternoon Tour: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Evening Tour: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Suggested items to Bring:
- Warm clothes suitable for the weather.
- Sleeping Bag .
- Water bottle
- Camera
- Bean Bag or very low tripod for camera
FREE USE OF BLIND: Note that you may use our professional photography blind for free when you register for certain other birding tours listed near bottom of this webpage.
Custom Bird Photography Tour Fee
Bird Photography Tour Fee: CAD $250 (about US$190, £165) per person. Taxes included.
Private bird photography tour fee includes guiding services for a 3-hour tour and use of a photographic blind for 1 person only. The person paying for the tour will receive a tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee. Client supplies their own transportation. Meals, transportation and accommodation are NOT included.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds less a $50 administration fee will be given if cancellation notice received 60 days before date of tour.
No refunds if cancellation notice received less than 60 days before date of tour unless another client takes your place.
All proceeds support the work of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation registered charity in caring for injured and orphaned birds and small mammals.
RESERVATIONS: Submit the form below or send us your full name(s), mailing address, email address with requested tour dates.
E-mail: birdtours@sasktel.net
Phone: 306-652-5975
Address: 100 Rayner Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2P8
Full payment due at time of booking. Payment instruction will be emailed to you after registration form is received.
Cheques may be mailed to above mailing address.
2023 Bird Photography Tour Reservation Request Form
If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, then please email: birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975.
Can I bring my pet dog on this tour?
Dogs are not recommended on this tour.
Covid Safety Policy on Tours
- Your tour leader is fully vaccinated.
- Clients must normally drive themselves in their own personal or rented vehicle. The leader will usually drive in a separate vehicle. We will use cell phones to communicate between each other during the tour.
- This policy may change when public health orders change or when Covid case numbers decrease.
- Please contact us before booking tour if you have any special requests with regard to this policy. In certain cases, if requested, leader may be willing to ride in client’s vehicle or drive client’s vehicle.
Gift Idea
GIFT CERTIFICATES: Click here for information about purchasing a gift certificate for this bird photography tour or any of our other tours.
This tour makes an excellent birthday gift, anniversary gift or Christmas gift for persons interested in birds and nature.
Other Bird Photography Tours
Click the following titles for more information.
- Forest Owl Photography Tour – Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl
- Snowy Owl Photography Tour
- Dancing Grouse Photography Tour
- Goose Lake Bird Photography Tour
- Pelican Photography Tour
Other Tours
Other Tours and Workshops: Click here to see a complete list of our upcoming tours and workshops.
FREE USE OF BLIND: You may request to use our professional photographic blind for no extra cost when you register for any of the following tours.
- Chappell Marsh Tour (mid May – September)
- Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour (May – early September)
- Prairie Lakes Tour (mid May – October)
- Quill Lakes Birding Tour (mid-May – mid September)
- Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour – (mid-may – August)
Multiple Tours Discount
Can’t decide which tour to take?
Check out our multiple tours discount described here.
Monthly Newsletter
Learn about special offers and new tours.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the monthly electronic Newsletter from Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours.
How to get to Saskatoon
Air: Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) is served by Flair, Air Canada, Westjet and their U.S. partners United and Delta.
Air Canada Star Alliance partners also include Aegean, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels, Copa, Croatia, EgyptAir, Ethiopian, EVA, Lot, Lufthansa, SAS, Shenzhen, Singapore, South African, Swiss, TAP, Thai, Turkish, United.
Westjet international partners include AeroMexico, Air France, Air Transat, Azores, Cathay Pacific, China, China Eastern, China Southern, Delta, Emirates, Hainan, Hong Kong, Japan, KLM, Korean, LATAM, Philippine, Quantas, Virgin Atlantic, Xiamen.
Train: Saskatoon’s Train Station is served by Via Rail’s Canadian train serving Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and Vancouver.
Bus: Saskatoon – Edmonton and Saskatoon – Regina bus service
Car: Saskatoon is located on Canada’s Yellowhead cross-country highway plus 6 other major highways connecting with all cities in Canada and USA. If you drive, you do not need to rent a car for our tours.
Entering Canada
CLICK HERE for government regulations for entering Canada.
My recent fully vaccinated international clients tell me there are no significant delays at the border provided they have fully completed the ArriveCan app in advance.
TOUR GUIDE: Your guide has many years of experience finding and observing birds throughout Saskatchewan. For over 30 years, Stan Shadick has been a birding guide for nature tours around Saskatchewan and other parts of the country that have been organized by Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, Nature Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division.
Stan is a past president of Nature Saskatchewan as well as a past president and current field trip chairman for the Saskatoon Nature Society. He is a co-editor of the reference publication “Birds of the Saskatoon Area” and contributed significantly to the recently published “Birds of Saskatchewan”. He is currently a regional coordinator for the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas project and helps with their bird identification workshops.
Stan regularly contributes sightings to e-bird and currently holds the e-bird record for the most bird species seen in Saskatchewan.