Buffalo Pound Park Birdwatching Tour

Escorted Self-Drive Birding Tour with 2 Options

Private Tours

Private Buffalo Pound Park Birding Day Tours: mid-May – August
10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
From $590 per vehicle with 1 – 4 persons

Public Group Tours

Buffalo Pound Park Group Tours:

$490 per vehicle with 1 – 4 persons

• Saturday,  August 17, 2024 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Note: no tour on August 11.

Ideal Day Tour for Residents or Visitors to:

• MOOSE JAW (25 m to Buffalo Pound)
• REGINA (1 h  to Buffalo Pound)
• SWIFT CURRENT (2 h to Buffalo Pound)
• SASKATOON (2h 15m to Buffalo Pound)

Buffalo Pound Park Entry Gate starting point:  10:30 AM

Buffalo Pound Park Entrance Gate, Moose Jaw No. 161, SK S6H 6V2, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Where is a Great Place to find Western Grebes in Saskatchewan?

Situated in the beautiful Qu’Appelle River valley north of Moose Jaw, Buffalo Pound Lake is one of Saskatchewan’s birding hotspots for water birds and songbirds. From May through September, the lake and marshes are home to Western, Red-necked, Eared and Pied-billed Grebes plus many ducks, pelicans, cormorants, gulls (Ring-billed and Franklin’s) and Terns (Forster’s and Black).

During our walk along the marsh boardwalk, we should find Marsh Wrens, Sedge Wrens, Yellowthroats plus Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. The deciduous woodlands in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park provides habitat for many nesting and migratory songbirds including both Eastern and Western Kingbirds.

Tour Description – Buffalo Pound Park Birding Tour

We will make our first stop at the park’s Buffalo Paddock. From here we will walk the boardwalk looking and listening for herons, bitterns, rails, wrens, sparrows and yellowthroats. We will then take a leisurely hike along the south side of Nicolle Flats Marsh to the point where we reach the wooded Moose Jaw River flows into the Qu’Appelle River.  We will have our lunch here near an old stone homestead in which a pair of Rock Wrens is sometimes found.

After returning to our vehicles, we will explore other lake viewpoints and wooded picnic and campgrounds. and coulees within Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. The is a great area for Brown Thrashers, Gray Catbirds and several vireos. Many kinds of warblers may be seen during migration in May and late August.

During the final portion of the tour, we will make stops in grassland areas to look for prairie songbirds. We will then drive to stop on the causeway over Buffalo Pound Lake where other lake birds may be seen. Finally, we will make stops along a road that traverses the grassy slope of the north riverbank to look for Mountain Bluebirds and other songbirds.

• Budget 1-day group tours offered on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 and Monday, July 8, 2024  Please book as early as possible.  Group Tour is limited to 5 vehicles plus leader.
• Novice and experienced bird watchers are welcome to join this tour.
  If available, you may borrow a pair of binoculars during this tour.
• A spotting scope will be available for viewing the birds from the roadside at high magnification.
• Ideal birthday, anniversary, retirement, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or graduation gift for the birder in your family.

Suggested items to Bring:

• Clothes suitable for the weather (rain jacket, sun hat, etc.)
• Water bottle
• Binoculars and camera (optional)

PUBLIC WASHROOMS: Located at several locations within Buffalo Pound Provincial Park.

Transportation

Participants on these tours need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. RVs and vehicles pulling trailers are permitted on private tours but are not recommended. Owners of full electric vehicles should have sufficient range for this tour if they charge up at Moose Jaw.

Carpooling

If you would like to share the costs of a tour with other interested birders, then complete the Carpooling Section of the Registration Request Form below or email the tour name, your name, phone number and email address to birdtours@sasktel.net

Tour Fee – Buffalo Pound Tour

Private Day Tour Fee: CA$690 (about US$500, £410) for a party of 1 – 4 persons Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services only for the tour.  Note fee is total fee for your party (not a per person fee). Client supplies their own transportation in personal or rented vehicle. Meals, transportation, park entrance fee and accommodation are NOT included.
SAVE $100 if you can provide transportation for leader from Saskatoon and back.

 Public Group Tour Fee: CA$490 (about US$350, £290) per vehicle for a party of 1 – 4 persons Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services only for the tour.  Note fee is total fee for your party (not a per person fee). Client supplies their own transportation in personal or rented vehicle. Meals, transportation, park entrance fee and accommodation are NOT included

TAX RECEIPT: A tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee will be issued to the person paying for the tour.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds less a $50 administration fee will be given if cancellation notice received 30 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 charity. https://livingskywildliferehabilitation.org/

Tour Reservations

RESERVATIONS: Please complete and submit the form below or email your full name(s), mailing address, email address and requested tour dates. Full payment due at time of booking. Payment instruction will be emailed to you after registration form is received. You may also phone Stan Shadick at 306-652-5975.

E-mail: birdtours@sasktel.net
Phone: 306-652-5975

My Name *

First

Last

Names of additional persons travelling in my vehicle during tour

My Email *

My Cell Phone *

Use landline if you don’t have a cell phone.

My Mailing Address *

Mailing address needed for tax receipt.

I (We) would like to register for the following tour *

• Private Buffalo Pound Lake Birding Tour (CAD $690)
• Sat. August 17, 2024 Buffalo Pound Lake Group Birding Tour ($490)
• I have room to transport leader in my personal or rented vehicle from Saskatoon.

Select all that applies.

I prefer the following date for this private tour:

Alternative dates for a private tour could be:

I request to

• borrow a pair of binoculars if available during tour.

Smoking Restrictions *

• At least 1 member of my party is a smoker.
• All members of my party are non-smokers.

Smoking is allowed only inside your own personal vehicle. No smoking is permitted outside during birding stops or hikes.

Some Bird species I hope to see include:

Comment or Message

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If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, then please email: birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975.