Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions 2026

Each session is limited to a maximum of 4 participants.
These sessions will be led by Boyd Coburn and/or Stan Shadick.
Advance Registration is required.

Sunrise 3-hour Sandhill Crane Photography Session Times:

5:45 AM – 8:45 AM September 16 – 22
6:00 AM – 9:00 AM  September 23 – 30
6:15 AM – 9:15 AM October 1 – 9
6:30 AM – 9:30 AM October 10 – 19
6:45 AM – 9:45 AM October 20 – 30

2026 Sunrise Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available:
September 19 – 30
October 1 – 16, 19, 20, 23 – 30

Sunset 3-hour Sandhill Crane Photography Session Times:

5:15 PM – 8:15 PM September 16 – 21
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM September 22 – 28
4:45 PM – 7:45 PM September 29 – October 2
4:30 PM – 7:30 PM October 3 – 10
4:15 PM – 7:15 PM October 11 – 17
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM October 18 – 25
3:45 PM – 6:45 PM October 26 – 30

2026 Sunset Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available:
September 16 – 30
October 1 – 16, 19, 20, 23 – 30

Scroll down to Book Session.

EASY

Less than 500 meters of walking on relatively level ground.

GUIDING FEE for private 3-hour Public Sandhill Crane Photography Session:
CAD $390 for 1 person (about USD $285, £210) or
CAD $490 for a party of 2 persons or
$590 for a party of 3 or 4 persons.
No additional taxes.
Fee includes only guiding services of leader.
Client must cover transportation costs for themselves plus the leader in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide may travel in a separate vehicle. Accommodation, transportation and meals are not included.

This 3-hour tour will focus on observing and photographing Sandhill Cranes near Saskatoon. A late afternoon session may be added to your 1-day private Whooping Crane tour on the same day.

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.

All guiding fee proceeds will be donated to Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Reservations for Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions

Reservations: Complete the form below or email: birdtours {at) 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 then 652 next 5975.

Payment Options

• E-transfer must be made at least 2 days before date of tour
• Canadian cheques must be received at least 10 days before date of tour
• USA checks must be received at least 6 weeks before date of tour
• Payment by credit card is accepted with a 3.5% processing fee

2026 and 2027 Crane Tour Reservation Request Form

• E-transfer must be made at least 2 days before date of tour
• Canadian cheques must be received at least 10 days before date of tour
• USA checks must be received at least 6 weeks before date of tour

My Name *

First

Last

Names of additional persons travelling in my vehicle during tour

My Email *

My Cell Phone *

If you do not have a cell phone, enter your land line.

My Mailing Address *

Mailing Address needed for tax receipt.

I (We) would like to register for the following 2026 or 2027 event. *

• 3-hour Sandhill Crane Public Photography Session for 1 person ($390)
• 3-hour Sandhill Crane Public Photography Session for 2 persons ($490)
• 3-hour Sandhill Crane Public Photography Session for 3-4 persons ($590)
• 2-day Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop, October 18-19, 2025 ($1490 per person)
• 1-day Regular Whooping Crane Private Tour ($690).

My Preferred Date(s)

3 hour Sunrise Sandhill Crane 2026 TOUR DATES: September 19 – 30, October 1 – 16, 19, 20, 23 – 30 3-hour Sunset Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available: September 16 – 30, October 1 – 16, 19, 20, 23 – 30

Alternate possible dates if preferred date is not available

I would also like to register for the following Add-On Tours

• 1-day Prince Albert National Park Bird Tour
• 1-day Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour

Binoculars

• If available, I would like to borrow a pair of binoculars during tour.
• Please contact me to discuss the possibility of purchasing top-quality image-stabilized binoculars.

Leader Transportation

• I can provide transportation for the leader in my vehicle.

Carpooling during Public Group Tour

• 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.

Smoking Restrictions *

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

Comment or Message

Submit

Reservation for Sandhill Crane Photography Session when paying by credit card

• This form is recommended for USA and overseas residents who wish to pay by credit card.
• It may be used by Canadian residents paying by credit card.
• Note that due to CRA rules, partial Canadian tax receipts are not available with this method of payment.
  (Use the other Reservation Request Form instead.)

QUESTIONS?

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

SUNRISE SANDHILL CRANE PHOTOGRAPHY PRIVATE SESSION

CLICK HERE for link to Instant Booking Form for Sunrise Photography Sessions

SUNSET SANDHILL CRANE PHOTOGRAPHY PRIVATE SESSION

CLICK HERE for link to Instant Booking Form for Sunset Photography Sessions

Gift Certificates Available

Multiple Tour Discounts

How to get to Saskatoon

Air: Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) is served by Air Canada, Westjet, Porter 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.

Boyd Coburn has over 30 years experience as a wildlife photographer in Saskatchewan. He is knowledgeable about operating cameras and processing and editing images. He claims he is always learning new techniques for imaging and post processing.

Boyd has a keen eye to find wildlife and the patience required to wait for the best opportunities for photography. He is passionate about being ethical when interacting with wildlife and their natural environment. He enjoys nature and is always looking for those uncommon birds and mammals that we don’t often see.

His approach to bird photography: “It is not always about getting the shot though, sometimes you miss the shot but get a spectacular experience.”

CLICK HERE to see some of Boyd Coburn’s  images.

Insurance

We suggest you consider buying travel medical insurance to cover emergency medical expenses during your tour.
We also recommend Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance.

Travel insurance with trip cancellation and interruption benefits can reimburse you for non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs (up to the amount of your plan limits) should your participation in the trip be canceled or interrupted for a covered reason. According to our cancellation policies, your payment to us will become non-refundable if you cancel your participation after the deadlines outlined in our policies.

In general, Trip Cancellation insurance reimburses you for non-refundable expenses if you are unable to join the tour. Trip Interruption reimburses you for the unused portion of your tour if you have to leave part-way through a tour and it also covers some additional unexpected expenses incurred during your travel (e.g. additional hotel of flight costs due to weather delays or other delays that are not covered by your airline).

Environmental Sustainability

All proceeds (after expenses)  from your guiding fees supports the work of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation registered charity. They care for over 2000 injured and orphaned birds and over 600 mammals brought to them from concerned Saskatchewan residents.
CLICK HERE for more details.

You can watch segments of their Staying Wild TV Show about the behind the scenes action at this facility by clicking here or checking your local CITYTV listings.