Email: birdtours [at] sasktel.net
Phone: 306 [then] 652 [then] 5975
Table of Contents
Select the date for your crane tours
- View rare Whooping Cranes and photograph large flocks of Sandhill Cranes near Saskatoon, Canada.
- All proceeds support the local Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity.
Available Tour Dates for 2025
Book your tour now.
Scroll down page to fill out Reservation Request Form.
- Private 2-day Whooping Crane & Sandhill Crane Tours available:
September 20-21, 22-23, 28-29
October 3 – 4, 5-6, 9-10, 14-15, 17-18, 19-20, 22-23, 24-25 - Private 1-day Whooping Crane Tours available:
September 24, 25, 26, 30,
October 1, 2, 7, 8, 16, 21, 26 - Public 1-day Whooping Crane Tours available: September 27
- Public Sunrise Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions: September 6 – October 31 (Limited to 3 photographers per session.)
- Public Sunset Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions: September 8 – October 31 (Limited to 3 photographers per session.)
Crane Tour Review Video – CELLPHONE FORMAT
Crane Tour Review Video – Computer Format
Monthly Newsletter
Learn about special offers and new tours.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the monthly electronic Newsletter from Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours
SNOW GEESE FLOCK
We frequently find flocks containing more than 100,000 birds!
Recent Testimonial
“We felt especially honoured that we had the opportunity to go with you – the wealth of information and knowledge that you shared and the ethical approach you took to watching the birds were really outstanding. We were glad to be seated comfortably in a car and not jostling for position in a crowded van…
We appreciated that you you adjusted your pace to our learner and interest level.”
Joy I. (October 2024 Whooping Crane Tour)
Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Tours in 2024
Private Whooping Crane Tours: Mid September – Late October
2024 Private 1-day Whooping Crane Tours available: October 27, 28, 29
2024 Private 2-day Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Tours available: October 27-28
This tour option is the best value and has been chosen by most participants in previous years.
WHOOPING CRANE TOUR HOURS
1-Day Tours 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
2-Day Tours 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM + optional 3-hour evening extension on day 1 until 6:30 PM
Self-Drive Escorted Birding Tour
Advance Booking Required
Scroll down for Fees and Registration.
Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Tours Description
Grain fields near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada have become the best dependable viewing location in the world to view rare Whooping Cranes, the tallest bird in North America. As local birders, we know the best historical places to search for these spectacular birds.
All proceeds support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity.
For many years, our Saskatchewan Whooping Crane tours led by Stan Shadick have found groups of 10 – 30 birds feeding during fall migration. In 2018, we found a single flock in excess of 150 whoopers! In 2019 and 2020, there were several flocks totaling over 100 individuals. In 2021, between 30 and 100 individuals were present during our tours between September 17 and October 24.
The population recovery of the endangered Whooping Crane has become a tremendous success story for wildlife conservation. The Canadian population of these birds once dipped as low as 15 individuals. In January 2023, the population estimate was 550 birds. In summer 2023, 95 nests were counted on their breeding grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park and about 30 young cranes were counted at the end of summer.
In 2025, we are planning both 1-day and 2-day custom private tours from mid-September through late-October to look for Whooping Cranes and/or Sandhill Cranes. We also plan 3-hour late afternoon private Sandhill Crane tours.
These 2 species of cranes are usually found in different locations. We often find Sandhills in flocks of 500 to several thousand. We will also be on the lookout for large flocks of Canada, Cackling, Snow, Ross’s and Greater White-fronted Geese as well as ducks, swans plus songbirds including Harris’s Sparrow and Rusty Blackbird. We regularly find several roosting flocks containing over 100,000 Snow Geese! You may view the birds using our high quality spotting scope.
Most of our out of province guests prefer to book our 2-day tour for the best chances for observing both Whooping and Sandhill Cranes. The 2-day tour option also provides a second chance to view more Whoopers on the second day at additional locations.
This tour is ideal for low-mobility clients because they may remain in their vehicle during this driving tour.
Because cranes sometimes move to different locations on different dates, we cannot guarantee finding whoopers on any tour. Nevertheless, Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours has always found Whooping Cranes on every previous Whooping Crane Viewing tours.
What to Wear
What to Wear. In case of an early snowfall or cool wet weather, bring a winter coat, raincoat, hat, gloves and long underwear. Bring your binoculars and a scope (optional). Cameras are optional.
Testimonials
Click to hear Calgary Naturalist Brian Keating on CBC Calgary giving his review of a recent Whooping Crane tour he booked with us.
“Thanks again for a terrific couple of days of birding” (Ian T)
“We had such a fantastic time and learned so much from you. We will be back for other tours in the future” (Paulette M)
“Once again thanks Stan. Many long lasting memories.” (Bob P)
“We just wanted to thank you again for a most enjoyable tour last week. The whooping cranes, of course, were the highlight, but we also found your history of the cranes quite fascinating. Over the years, we had heard some of the recovery story, but the original breeding across the prairies was a surprise. And we hadn’t heard about all of the early attempts to help the recovery. As you said, it would be great to see breeding resume in Saskatchewan, and possibly other areas as well.
We also appreciated the opportunity to see several species that only appear in southern Ontario as “rarities” or “accidentals”. Always nice to see birds we haven’t seen in a long time.
Thanks again for all your patient help and guiding.” DJ & SJ
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 phone 306-652-5975 to discuss whether their range is sufficient for this tour. The driving distance may be about 400 km for Whooping Crane tours and 100 km for half-day Sandhill Crane tours. EV charging stations are available in several Saskatoon hotels.
The guide may drive in a separate car and communicate by cell phone.
If you prefer, you may request the guide to ride in your non-smoking vehicle.
Saskatoon meeting location will be given to registered participants.
Carpooling
If you would like to share the costs of a group 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
When are the best dates to view Saskatchewan Whooping Cranes?
- Whooping Cranes can normally be observed near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada between September 20 and October 26. Whooping Cranes might also be found earlier and later than these dates. There is a small risk of not finding Whoopers on the first tour dates of the season.
- Best Whooping Crane tour dates for warm weather and scenic fall colours are September 20 – 28.
- Best Whooping Crane tour dates for maximum numbers of cranes are usually October 14 – 25.
- Best Whooping Crane tour dates for best photography conditions (minimum heat haze): October 10 – 26.
Note: We cannot guarantee you will obtain great photos. Our first priority is to avoid harassing the birds. How close we can get without disturbing the whoopers is unpredictable.
Why book a Whooping Crane Viewing tour with Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours?
- LOCAL EXPERIENCE. Your guide has over 30 years experience in leading birding tours to observe these magnificent birds. Although Whoopers often move to different locations at different times of the day and on different days of the week and during different years, he will lead you to the most likely spots to find them.
- ETHICS. Your guide will show you how to use special techniques to observe nearby Whooping Cranes responsibly without disturbing these endangered birds. A spotting scope may be used to observe birds that are far away from the vehicle.
- LEARN ID TIPS. You can learn how to use field marks and sounds to identify the cranes, swans, geese (up to 5 species), ducks, grebes, eagles and other raptors, longspurs plus many songbirds. Your guide will take you to the best locations for finding these species during your tour.
- LEARN ABOUT CONSERVATION. You will learn about the history of Whooping Crane Conservation in North America and the current conservation issues facing these birds. The Canadian Wildlife Service has played an important role in this conservation success story. Your guide is an experienced researcher of wild birds and has received awards for his activities in the wildlife conservation movement.
- BEST VEHICLE FOR OBSERVING. We believe that your personal or rented vehicle will usually provide a better observing experience during your tour than the crowded expensive vans offered by some out-of-province companies. Often dark tinted van windows cannot be rolled down to provide optimal conditions for viewing and photography.
- WILDLIFE CHARITY. Because your tour leader volunteers his time to lead these tours, all of your tour fee is used by our local wildlife rehabilitation center to help pay the cost of food, medicine and hiring of summer students needed to care for injured birds and small mammals harmed by human activities.
- TAX RECEIPTS. You will receive a tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee.
Can you photograph Whooping Cranes during our tours?
YES. You are welcome to bring your camera on our tours.
During our tours, we ensure that the Whooping Cranes are not harassed by our actions. We stay on public roads and do not trespass on private fields. Because Whooping Cranes are often alarmed if they see humans walking in the open, we take special precautions to avoid such disturbance. If the birds are relatively close to a road, then we require our guests to remain inside their vehicle or hide behind trees or vehicles, when attempting to obtain photos.
Sometimes guests with good experience in bird photography can obtain excellent photos or videos using telephoto lenses. Sometimes a combination of heat haze, weather conditions and distance to cranes may not permit suitable photographic conditions. For this reason, we do not advertise our Whooping Crane tours as photography tours. Often conditions for photography improve during cooler days in mid to late October.
Can I bring my pet dog on this tour?
Dogs are permitted on private tours but cannot be let out of the car when we are near cranes. Dogs are not permitted on group tours.
Sandhill Crane Photography
Thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather near Saskatoon, Canada during fall migration.
Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions
Each session is limited to a maximum of 3 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:
5:30 AM – 8:30 AM September 6 – 12
5:45 AM – 8:45 AM September 13 – 22
6:00 AM – 9:00 AM September 23 – 30
6:15 AM – 9:15 AM October 1 – 10
6:30 AM – 9:30 AM October 11 – 19
6:45 AM – 9:45 AM October 20 – 31
2024 Sunrise Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available:
September 16 – 30
October 1 – 11, 15 – 30
Sunset 3-hour Sandhill Crane Photography Session Times:
5:45 PM – 8:45 PM September 6 – 7
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM September 10 – 15
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
2024 Sunset Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available:
September 16 – 30
October 1 – 11, 15 – 30
Scroll down for Fees and Registration.
Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop: October 12 – 14, 2024
Join a Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop led by Saskatchewan wildlife photographer Boyd Coburn in Saskatoon, Canada. Witness the thousands of sandhill cranes that visit out region every fall.
There will be 4 outdoor photography sessions with hands-on help with camera settings plus an indoor photo editing session. There will also be a special Whooping Crane tour for participants and a post workshop tour to famous Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary.
CLICK HERE for Workshop details.
Whooping Cranes in grain field
Large flock of Whoopers
Images taken on previous 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 usually drive in a separate vehicle. We will use cell phones to communicate between each other during the tour.
- 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 or drive client’s vehicle.
Gift Certificates Available Now
This tour makes an excellent birthday gift, anniversary gift, graduation gift, father’s day gift or special gift for a birder, birdwatcher or anyone interested in nature.
Click here for information about purchasing a gift certificate for this tour or any of our other tours.
Fees
Send your cell phone number by email to birdtours {at} sasktel.net, so that we can discuss the best payment option.
FEE for private 2-day Whooping and Sandhill Crane tour excluding transportation: CAD $1330 (about US $950, £740) for a party of 1 – 4 persons. Fee includes only guiding services (8 hours/day) of leader and shared use of spotting scope. This fee is the total fee for your party. it is not a per person fee. Client must cover their transportation costs in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide may travel in a separate vehicle. We can communicate via cell phone. If you prefer, you may request guide to ride in the back seat of your non-smoking vehicle (better choice). Accommodation and meals are not included.. We will stop to pick up food for lunch. This 2-day option is the best choice for observing both Whooping and Sandhill Cranes.
FEE for private 2-day Whooping Crane tour including either Prince Albert National Park or Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary add-on day trip excluding transportation: CAD $1480 (about US $1060, £820) for a party of 1 – 4 persons. Fee includes only guiding services (8 hours/day) of leader and shared use of spotting scope. This fee is the total fee for your party. it is not a per person fee. Client must cover their transportation costs in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide may travel in a separate vehicle. We can communicate via cell phone. If you prefer, you may request guide to ride in the back seat of your non-smoking vehicle (better choice). Accommodation and meals are not included.. We will stop to pick up food for lunch.
FEE for private 1-day Whooping Crane tour excluding transportation: CAD $690 (about US $495, £380) for a party of 1 – 4 persons. Fee includes only guiding services (8 hours/day) of leader and shared use of spotting scope. Client must cover transportation costs in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide may travel in a separate vehicle. We can communicate via cell phone. If you prefer, you may request guide to ride in the back seat of your non-smoking vehicle (better choice). Accommodation and meals are not included. The 1-day tour will focus on looking for Whooping Cranes but likely will not find Sandhill Cranes.
FEE for 3-hour public Sandhill Crane Photography Session excluding transportation: CAD $390 for 1 person (about US $280, £220) or CAD $490 for a party of 2 persons or $590 for a party of 3 or 4 persons. Fee includes only guiding services of leader and shared use of spotting scope. Client must cover transportation costs in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide may travel in a separate vehicle. We can communicate via cell phone. Accommodation and meals are not included. This 3-hour tour will focus on observing and photographing Sandhill Cranes near Saskatoon. This late afternoon tour may be added to your 1-day private Whooping Crane tour on the same day.
BUDGET TOUR FEE for September 27, 2025 public Whooping Crane group tour excluding transportation: CAD $490 (about USD $350, £270) for 1 person or $590 (about USD $425, £325) per vehicle for a party of 2 – 4 persons travelling in a single car or truck. RVs are not suitable on group tours. Unlike the previous private “family” tours, participants in this 8-hour public tour will join a group of whooping crane enthusiasts in a small convoy of up to 6 vehicles.
1-day and 2-day Whooping Crane tours start about 7:30 am and returns to Saskatoon about 3:30 pm. The times for the 3-hour Sandhill Crane photography sessions are listed earlier on this webpage and vary with sunrise and sunset times.
Fee includes guiding services of leader and shared use of spotting scope . Client must cover transportation costs in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide may travel in a separate vehicle. If so, we can communicate via cell phone app. If you prefer, you may request guide to ride in your non-smoking vehicle. Accommodation and meals are not included. The 1-day public tour will focus on looking for Whooping Cranes.
Private Prince Albert National Park 1-day Birding Tour Fee: CAD $790 (about US$575, £465) 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 day 1 and ends in the park about 4 PM.
Participants may then drive back to Saskatoon with the leader or stay overnight in a park motel.
** SAVE $200 **if you have room to transport leader in your non-smoking vehicle during tour from Saskatoon and back.
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.
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
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.
2024 Crane Tour Reservation Request Form
If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, then please email: birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975.
Whooping Crane Poetry
©️ Madeleine McLaughlin
Long necked
with legs like ruby stilts
the crane lifts it wings
to it’s side
and dances with little strides
Click here for balance of poem
How to get to Saskatoon
Air: Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) is served by Air Canada, Westjet, Flair, 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.
Entering Canada
CLICK HERE for government regulations for entering Canada.
My recent fully vaccinated international clients tell me there are no significant delays at the border provided they have fully completed the ArriveCan app in advance.
SPECIAL DISCOUNT
Anyone who books any whooping crane tour during 2024 is eligible for a 20% discount off any Prairie Lakes Birding tour bookings between October 25 and November 7, 2024.
Other Bird Photography Sessions
- Dancing Grouse Photography Sessions
April – May - Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl Photography Tours
December – early March - Goose Lake Photography Tour
May – September - Owl Photography Workshops
December29, 2024 – January 2, 2025, Feb 17 – 21, 2025 - Pelican Photography and Viewing Tour
Special Group Tour: September 5 - Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions
September – October - Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop
October 12 – 14, 2024 - Snowy Owl Photography Sessions
December 29 – 31, 2024, February 17 – 19, 2025 - Snowy Owl Photography Workshops
Other Tours
Other Tours and Workshops: Click here to see a complete list of our upcoming tours and workshops.
- Blackstrap Waterfowl Tour
- Canada Saskatchewan Late-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 25 – September 1
- Canada Saskatchewan Autumn Birding Grand Tour: September 9 – 18
- Chief Whitecap Park Birding Tour (early September)
- Golden Eagle Quest Birding Tour
- Last Mountain Lake Birding Tour
- Pelican Photography and Viewing Tour
- Prairie Lakes Birding Tour – 4 hours
- Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour
- Warbler Walking Tour
Multiple Tours Discount
Can’t decide which tour to take?
Check out our multiple tours discount described here.
TOP QUALITY BINOCULAR OFFER
Do you want a better pair of binoculars for birdwatching?
Great for viewing Whooping Cranes
CLICK HERE for information about the
Kite Optics 16X42 Image Stabilized Binoculars
STAN SHADICK: Guide for Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours
TOUR GUIDE: Your guide has many years of experience finding and observing birds throughout Saskatchewan. For over 30 years, Stan Shadick has been a birding guide for nature tours around Saskatchewan and other parts of the country that have been organized by Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours, Nature Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division.
Stan is past president of Nature Saskatchewan as well as past president and current field trip chairman for the Saskatoon Nature Society. He is a co-editor of the reference publication “Birds of the Saskatoon Area” and contributed significantly to the recently published “Birds of Saskatchewan”.
Stan was a regional coordinator for the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas project and helps with their bird identification workshops. He regularly contributes sightings to e-bird and currently holds the e-bird record for the most bird species seen in Saskatchewan.
Stan volunteers his time leading Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours so that all proceeds benefit the work of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.
ALL BIRDING TOURS
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
HALF-DAY PRIVATE BIRDING TOURS
FULL-DAY PRIVATE BIRDING TOURS
MULTI-DAY GROUP BIRDING TOURS
LOW MOBILITY BIRDING TOURS
BLIND / LOW VISION BIRDING TOURS
BIRDING BY EAR ONLINE WORKSHOPS
WARBLER ID ONLINE WORKSHOPS