Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour with 2 great options from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Yorkton or Prince Albert

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Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour

Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tours

Full Day Self-Drive Birding Tour

Private Tours

Available MID APRIL – OCTOBER

From $690 per vehicle with 1 – 3 persons.
For a quote, email your suggested dates to birdtours [at] sasktel [dot] net

Public Group Tours

Upcoming group tours

From $390 per vehicle with 1 – 3 persons.

  • Wed. Oct. 16, 2024 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
    Special Sandhill Crane viewing tour
    Note date change

Private escorted self-drive tours offered daily

Suggested Times: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

IDEAL DAY TOUR FOR RESIDENTS OR VISITORS TO

  • SASKATOON
  • REGINA (1 h 20 m to Govan)
  • MOOSE JAW (1 h 45 m to Govan)
  • YORKTON (2h 10 m to Govan)
  • PRINCE ALBERT (2h 50m to Govan)

Saskatoon starting point: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Govan starting point:  11:15 AM – 4:15 PM

Estimated Return Driving Distance to Saskatoon: 470 km

PUBLIC WASHROOMS: Located at Sanctuary Visitor Centre, Regional Park plus at gas stations in towns of Colonsay, Young and Watrous that we pass when driving back and forth.

Where to see birds at Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary?

Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour Description

Visit Last Mountain Lake – the First National Bird Sanctuary to be established in North America!

On the recommendation of Edgar Dewdney, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories, this Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary was set aside in 1887 by the government of Sir John A MacDonald (Canada’s first prime minister) for the protection of wildfowl, the first such reserve on the North American continent. It was established as a federal migratory bird sanctuary four years after Parliament passed the Migratory Birds Convention Act of 1917.

Internationally recognized, Last Mountain Lake wildlife area is a migration stopover point in spring and fall for hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, cranes and countless smaller birds, and a summer nesting area for over 100 species, including several rare species.

Both novice and experienced bird watchers are welcome. A loaner pair of binoculars may be available if requested. The leader will bring a spotting scope to allow you to view the birds under high magnification.

  • Full Day 9 hour self-drive escorted birding tour from Saskatoon visiting the Last Mountain bird sanctuary plus nearby hotspots. We can meet up with visitors from Regina and Prince Albert.
  • Please book as soon as possible. This tour is limited to a maximum of 5 vehicles plus leader.
  • An optional 3 hour evening extension permits viewing birds at the optimal time for photography with the sun low in the sky.
  • Ideal Birthday gift; Anniversary gift< Mother’s Day gift, Father’s Day gift or Retirement gift for the birder in your family.
  • Spring and Early Summer: Best time to observe grassland birds
  • Summer: Observe numerous shorebirds
  • Fall: Witness the huge flocks of sandhill cranes and geese.
  • Possible Grassland birds include Short-eared Owl, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Upland Sandpiper, Sprague’s Pipit, Baird’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Western Meadowlark.
  • Possible shorebirds 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 waterfowl include Snow, Ross’s, Greater White-fronted, Cackling and Canada Geese plus Tundra Swans, White-winged Scoter and 17 other duck species.

Suggested items to Bring:

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

Testimonials about Last Mountain Bird Sanctuary Tours

“Thank you, Stan — I loved the tour and am looking forward to taking another one soon!” JVP July 13, 2022

“Thanks so much, Stan. I had a great time yesterday. ” JC  July 12, 2022

Transportation

Participants on these tours need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. RVs are permitted on private tours but not on group tours. Vehicles pulling trailers may camp in Last Mountain Lake Regional park and join the tour after their trailer is parked.

This tour might be suitable for owners of full electric vehicles if you charge up your vehicle in Regina and top it up in Lumsden.  Alternatively, you may wish to charge up your vehicle in Davidson. Several Regina hotels have EV charging stations. Round trip distance is about 340 km from Regina, 275 km from Lumsden, 240 km from Davidson, 435 km from Saskatoon.

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

Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour Fee

Private Full Day Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour Fee: CA$790 (about US$580, £465) for a party of 1 – 4 persons Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services only for 10 hour trip. The fee is the total amount 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 $100.  If you have space to transport leader in your personal or rented vehicle during tour from Saskatoon and back, then deduct $100 from the tour fee.

Public Full Day Last Mountain Lake public Group Birding Tour Fee: CA$490 per vehicle (about US$365, £315) for a party of 1 – 4 persons Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services only for 10 hour trip. The fee is the total amount 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 $100.  If you have space to transport leader in your personal or rented vehicle during tour from Saskatoon and back, then deduct $100 from the tour fee.

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

Tax Receipts

 

 

 

 

 

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 30 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/

Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour Reservation

Reservations: Complete the form below or email: birdtours@sasktel.net and provide names of clients, their addresses and requested type of tour and tour date.
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.

Use landline if you don’t have a cell phone.
Mailing address needed for tax receipt.
Payment details will be emailed to you have form is submitted.
Smoking is allowed only inside your own personal vehicle. No smoking is permitted outside during birding stops or hikes.

Payment instructions by e-transfer will be sent to registrants.

Last Mountain Lake Bird Sancturary
Last Mountain Lake Bird Observatory

The Algonquian Indians believed that Last Mountain Lake was formed by a great spirit who dug out the lake’s valley to build mountains with its dirt. Some say he made the lake to make room for all the birds of the region.

Cranes by Nick Saunders
Black-crowned Night Heron by Nick Saunders

 

Baird’s Sparrow
by Nick Saunders

 

Can I bring my pet dog on this tour?

Dogs are permitted on private tours provided they are kept on a leash at all times. Dogs are not permitted on group tours.

Gift Certificates

GIFT CERTIFICATES: Click here for information about purchasing a gift certificate for this Last Mountain Lake Birding Tour or any of our other tours.

How to get to Saskatoon

Air: Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) is served by 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.

Covid Safety Policy on Tours

  1. Your tour leader is fully vaccinated.
  2. Clients must normally drive themselves in their own personal or rented vehicle. The leader will normally drive in a separate vehicle. We will use cell phones to communicate between each other during the tour.
  3. This policy may change when public health orders change or when Covid case numbers decrease.
  4. 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.

Other Bird Photography Sessions

Other Tours

This Last Mountain Lake Birding Tour may be taken in conjunction with any of the following summer birding tours.

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.

TOP QUALITY BINOCULAR OFFER

Do you want a better pair of binoculars for birdwatching?

Great for watching distant water birds.

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Kite Optics 16X42 Image Stabilized Binoculars