Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour
Early Spring Group Tour: April 7 - 8, 2023
Early Summer Group Tour: June 24 - 26, 2023
Private Tours: Available year-round
Escorted self-driving tour
Estimated Return Driving Distance from Saskatoon: 700 km
Ideal Birding Tour for residents or visitors to:
- Saskatoon
- Prince Albert
- Regina (4 h to Prince Albert)
- Moose Jaw (3 h 45 m to Prince Albert)
- Yorkton (4 h to Prince Albert)
- North Battleford (2 h 15 m to Prince Albert)
Saskatoon starting point: 8:00 AM
Rosthern starting point: 8:45 AM
Prince Albert starting point: 9:45 AM
Where to See Birds in Prince Albert National Park?
Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour Description
Join a private tour or a public group tour with a small group of birders on a Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour. We will visit the best birding hotspots in this forested Saskatchewan park, home of Grey Owl, one of Canada's first conservationists.
Late March and Early April is the best time of year for listening for the nocturnal calls of owls. We often hear Boreal Owls, Barred Owls and Northern Saw-whet Owls. Sometimes we hear a Great Gray Owl or a Great Horned Owl.
In summer, this forested park contains Bald Eagles, Osprey plus many species of warblers, vireos, sparrows and flycatchers.
In all seasons, we usually find Boreal Chickadees, Canada Jay, Spruce Grouse plus Hairy, Downy, Pileated and American Three-toed Woodpeckers. Black-backed Woodpeckers often occur.
Your leader will be Stan Shadick with Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours. All proceeds support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.
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.
See sidebar for a list of potential species. A checklist of Saskatchewan birds may be downloaded HERE.
Accommodation Options. Both camping and hotel accommodation options are available in Prince Albert National Park.
2-Day Early Spring Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour Itinerary
Weather conditions may result in changes to this planned itinerary.
Day 1
Tour departs Saskatoon at 8 am.
Participants may choose to join the Prince Albert National Park birding tour at either Rosthern (8:45 AM) or Prince Albert (9:45 AM).
Some of our planned birding stops include the following sites.
- Christopher Lake
- Anglin Lake
- Boundary Bog Nature Trail where we will search for possible Spruce Grouse.
- Overnight at a motel. Campers may wish to stay in a Prince Albert National Park campground. oTENTik units are available.
- Optional late evening outing to listen for calling Barred Owls, Boreal Owls and possibly Northern Saw-whet Owls, Great Gray Owls or Great Horned Owls.
Day 2
We plan to bird in the park all morning and then drive back home in the afternoon. If you wish, you may plan to stay longer in the park on your own. Some planned stops include:
- Narrows area
- Treebeard Nature Trail
- Waskesiu River Nature Trail
3-Day Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour Itinerary
Weather conditions may result in changes to this planned itinerary.
Day 1
Tour departs Saskatoon at 8 am.
Participants may choose to join the Prince Albert National Park birding tour at either Rosthern or Prince Albert.
Some of our planned birding stops include the following sites.
- Nisbet Forest
- Little Red River Park
- Boundary Bog Nature Trail
- Overnight at a motel. Campers may wish to stay in a Prince Albert National Park campground. oTENTik units are available.
- Optional late evening outing to listen for owls
Day 2
We plan to look for birds on several of the following trails.
- Mud Creek Nature Trail
- Treebeard Nature Trail
- Waskesiu River Nature Trail
- Narrows Peninsula Nature Trail
- Kingsmere River Nature Trail
Day 3
We plan to bird in the park all morning and then drive back home in the afternoon. If you wish, you may plan to stay longer in the park on your own. Some planned stops include:
- Shady Lake nature trail
- Height of Land Tower
- Namekus Lake
- Elk Nature Trail
- Wingard Ferry
- Fort Carleton Provincial Park
The itinerary for 2-day tours will focus on Day 1 and 2 activities.
Transportation
Participants on these Prince Albert National Park tours need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. RVs are permitted on private tours but not on group tours. Vehicles pulling a trailer may join the tour after the trailer is parked at a campground. Owners of full electric vehicles should have sufficient range for this tour if they charge up at Saskatoon or Prince Albert and at Waskesiu.
Carpooling on group tours
If you would like to share the costs of a tour with other interested birders, then complete the Car Pooling Section of the Registration Request Form below or email the tour name, your name, phone number and email address to birdtours@sasktel.net
Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour Fee (3 Options)
Option A
April 7 - 8, 2023 Prince Albert National Park 2-day Group Birding Tour Fee: CAD $790 (about US$590, £500) for your party of 1 - 4 persons travelling in a single vehicle.
This fee is the total fee for your party of 1 - 4 persons. It is not a per person fee.
Fee includes guiding services. Meals and accommodation and transportation are NOT included.
Trip begins in Saskatoon at 8 am on April 7 and returns about 8 pm on April 8.
SAVE $200 if you have room to transport leader in your vehicle during tour 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 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.
Option B
June 24 - 26, 2023 Prince Albert National Park 3-day Group Birding Tour Fee: CAD $1190 (about US$890, £760) for your party of 1 - 4 persons travelling in a single vehicle.
This fee is the total fee for your party of 1 - 4 persons. It is not a per person fee.
Fee includes guiding services. Meals and accommodation and transportation are NOT included.
Trip begins in Saskatoon at 9 am on June 24 and returns about 6 pm on June 26.
SAVE $200 if you have room to transport leader in your vehicle during tour from Saskatoon and back.
This group tour is limited to a minimum of 2 vehicles and a maximum of 5 vehicles plus the leader. Please book as soon as possible because accommodation fills up quickly in summer.
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 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.
Option C
Private Prince Albert National Park Birding 3-Day Tour Fee: CAD $2190 (about US$1640, £1400) for your party of 1 - 4 persons travelling in a single vehicle.
This fee is the total fee for your group of 1 - 4 persons. It is not a per person fee.
Fee includes guiding services. Meals and accommodation and transportation are NOT included.
Trip begins in Saskatoon at 9 am on the date of your choice and returns on 3rd day about 6 pm.
SAVE $200 if you have room to transport leader in your vehicle during tour 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 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.
Prince Albert National Park Registration Form
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.
The number of participants accepted on this group tour is limited.
Questions: please email birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975 during evenings.
If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, then please email: birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975.
Tour Guide
Tour Guide: Stan Shadick. Click for more information about your tour guide.
by May Haga
Canoe Song
Lyrics by Saskatchewan born singer and songwriter Connie Kaldor
Take me where the loons are calling
Mist in the morning, smell of pine
Whiskeyjack wake me up
Send me out with a fishing line
Give me a canoe and let me go
Up past Waskesiu to the Wabeno
Click here to listen to the complete song.
(Waskesiu is the townsite in Prince Albert National Park.)
Some Potential Birds of Interest during Prince Albert National Park Birding Tours
- Spruce Grouse
- Common Loon
- American White Pelican
- Osprey
- Bald Eagle
- Barred Owl
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- American Three-toed Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Canada Jay
- Boreal Chickadee
- Winter Wren
- Swainson's Thrush
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Magnolia Warbler
- Cape May Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Blackburnian Warbler
- Bay-breasted Warbler
- Ovenbird
- Mourning Warbler
- Wilson's Warbler
- LeConte's Sparrow
- Swamp Sparrow
- Evening Grosbeak
Gift Certificates Available Now
GIFT CERTIFICATES: Click here for information about purchasing a gift certificate for this Prince Albert National Park 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
- Your tour leader is fully vaccinated.
- 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.
- Please wear a mask and maintain physical 2 meter distancing when walking outside or viewing birds through the spotting scope that I will set up.
- 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.
Other Tours
This Prince Albert National Park Group Birding Tour may be taken in conjunction with any of the following summer birding tours.
- Saskatchewan Birding Hotspots Tour Series
- Beaver Creek Birding and Hiking Tour -
- Chaplin Shorebirds Tour
- Chappell Marsh Birding and Hiking Tour
- Duck Mountain Birding Tour
- Last Mountain Lake Birding Tour
- Porter Lake Birding Tour
- Prairie Grasslands Birding Tour
- Prairie Lakes Birding Tour
- Quill Lakes Birding Tour
- Souris River Birding Tour
- Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour
- Songbird Stroll
- Sunday Morning Guided Bird Walk
- Duck Mountain Park Group Birding Tour
- Cypress Hills - Grasslands Park Group Birding Tour
- Warbler Walking Tour
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.
