Chaplin Shorebirds Tour ♿

Escorted Self-Drive Birding Tour with 3 Options

MID MAY - AUGUST

Special Group Tour: Sunday, July 23, 2023.

Private 1-day and 2-day tours offered mid May - August

Ideal Day Tour for Residents or Visitors to:

• SASKATOON (2h 30 m to Chaplin)
• REGINA (1 h 40 m to Chaplin)
• MOOSE JAW (1 h to Chaplin)
• SWIFT CURRENT (1 h to Chaplin)
• ELBOW (1 h to Chaplin)

Saskatoon starting point: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Elbow / Douglas Park starting point: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Chaplin starting point:  10:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Where is the Best Place to find Shorebirds in Saskatchewan?

Chaplin Lake Important Bird Area and nearby lakes often have the greatest variety of plovers, sandpipers, dowitchers,  phalaropes and other shorebirds in Saskatchewan, Canada including the endangered Piping Plover.

Tour Description - Chaplin Shorebirds Tour

• Extended 12 - 14 hour Chaplin Shorebirds Tour from Saskatoon visiting best shorebird habitats in Saskatchewan at Chaplin Shorebird Reserve and 4 other nearby hotspots.
• A private 2-day option is also available. Closest motel in Herschel, Saskatchewan.
• Budget 1-day group tour offered on Sunday, July 23, 2023.  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.
• Endangered Piping Plovers are often found here.
• Other shorebirds found on Chaplin Shorebirds Tour often include Red Knot, Sanderling, Wilson’s Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Marbled Godwit, Hudsonian Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer.
• Possible Grassland birds frequently found on Chaplin Shorebirds Tour include Upland Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Lark Bunting, Baird’s Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Western Meadowlark.
• This tour begins in Saskatoon but can also be joined at Elbow or Chaplin. Situated on Trans-Canada Highway 1, Chaplin serves as an ideal starting point for participants coming from Regina, Moose Jaw or Swift Current.
• ♿ This tour is ideal for low-mobility clients because they may choose to remain in their vehicle during this driving tour.

Suggested items to Bring:

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

PUBLIC WASHROOMS: Located at Chaplin Visitor Centre, Regional Park plus at Douglas Park and at gas stations in towns of Chaplin and Morse.

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 or Swift Current.

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 - Chaplin Shorebirds Tour

Private Full Day Tour Fee: CA$990 (about US$740, £635) 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 and accommodation are NOT included.
SAVE $200 if you can provide transportation for leader from Saskatoon and back.

Private 2-Day Tour Fee: CA$1290 (about US$950, £845) 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 and accommodation are NOT included. Please book as soon as possible because accommodation rooms are limited.
SAVE $200 if you can provide transportation for leader from Saskatoon and back.

 July 23, 2023 Group Tour Fee: CA$690 (about US$510, £450) for a party of 1 – 4 persons Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services only for the tour.  Note fee is total fee for your group (not a per person fee). Client supplies their own transportation in personal or rented vehicle. Meals, transportation and accommodation are NOT included.
Save $200 if you can provide transportation for leader from Saskatoon and back.

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
Text: 306-281-2215

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 Chaplin Shorebirds 1-day tour
• Private Chaplin Shorebirds 2-day tour
• July 23, 2023 Chaplin Shorebirds group tour
• If possible, I (we) prefer to transport leader in our vehicle during this day tour from Saskatoon..

Please check all that apply. Payment details will be emailed to you after form is submitted.

I prefer the following date for this tour: *

Alternative dates could be:

Binoculars

• If available, I would like to borrow a pair of binoculars during tour.

Carpooling

• I (We) have space in our vehicle to transport 1 person willing to share costs.
• I (We) have space in our vehicle to transport 2 persons willing to share costs.
• I (We) prefer to ride in another person's vehicle and will share costs.
• I (We) cannot drive and need to ride in another person's vehicle and will share costs.
• I (We) do NOT wish to carpool.

Check ALL that apply.

On the night before tour, I plan to stay in

• Saskatoon
• Regina
• Moose Jaw
• Swift Current
• Elbow / Douglas Provincial Park
• Other location noted in comments

Binoculars

• If avaialble, I would like to borrow a pair of binoculars during this 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.

Vaccinations *

• All members of my party have received all Covid vaccinations.

Comment or Message

Submit

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