View rare Whooping Cranes and photograph large flocks of Sandhill Cranes near Saskatoon, Canada.

All proceeds support the local Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity.

Select the date for your crane tours.

ALL BIRDING TOURS

Saskatchewan Whooping Crane Tours
and Sandhill Crane Tours

• Private Whooping Crane Tours
• Private Sandhill Crane Tours
• Group Whooping Crane Tours
• 1-day and 2-day Whooping Crane tour packages
• 2-day packages best for seeing both Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes in flocks
  (Best deal with good opportunities for photography.)
• 3-hour Sunrise and Sunset Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions available
• Sunset Photography Sessions also available as an add-on to 1-day Whooping Crane Tours.
• Local Guide has 50 years experience leading Saskatchewan Whooping Crane tours!
• Drive your own vehicle for best viewing opportunities (no crowded vans)
• Best selection of tour dates
• Car pooling option available on group tours to share costs
• Partial Tax Receipt (All proceeds support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity)

Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Tours

Private  Whooping Crane Tours:  Mid September - Late October

2023 Private 1-day Whooping Crane Tours available: September 24, 25, 26, 27 October 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15,  22, 23, 24, 25

*** Early Bird Discount ***

Deduct $100 from the listed fee for any Whooping Crane tours from September 26 - 27.
To get this discount, enter "Early Bird" in the comments section of the registration form.

2023 Private 2-day Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Tours available: September 26-27, October 2-3, 5-6, 22-23, 24-25.
This tour is the best value and has been chosen by most participants in previous years.

2023 Public Whooping Crane Group Tours:

• Monday, September 25
• Sunday, October 1
• Sunday, October 8

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.

NEWS FLASH:  Our October 16, 2022 tour found 73++ Whooping Cranes including 3 families with TWINS!

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 but now exceeds 500 birds. In 2022, 95 nests were counted on their breeding grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park and 68 young cranes were counted at the end of summer.

In 2023, 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.

WHOOPERS AND SANDHILLS

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

We currently have a request from a potential client who needs a ride on the October 1 Whooping Crane Group Tour. If you wish to offer a ride to this person, please email 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 20. Whooping Cranes might also be found earlier and later than these dates.
• 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 7 - 22.
• Best Whooping Crane tour dates for best photography conditions (minimum heat haze): October 10 - 22.
  Note: We cannot guarantee you will obtain great photos. Our first priority is to avoid harassing the birds. How close we can get is unpredictable.

Why book a Whooping Crane Viewing tour with Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 this tour as a photography tour. 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 Workshop: October 7 - 9, 2023

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.

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 Sessions:
5:30 AM - 8:30 AM September 6 - 12
5:45 AM - 8:45 AM September 13 - 17
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM  September 29 - 30
6:15 AM - 9:15 AM October 1 - 6
6:30 AM - 9:30 AM October 11 - 19
6:45 AM - 9:45 AM October 20 - 31

2023 Sunrise Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available:
September 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30
October 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Sunset 3-hour Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions:
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 - 6, 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

2023 Sunset Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available:
September 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30
October 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Scroll down for Fees and Registration.

Whooping Cranes in grain field

Large flock of Whoopers

Snow Geese flock

We frequently find roosting flocks containing over 100, 000 Snow Geese!

Images taken on previous 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 usually 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 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

FEE for private 2-day Whooping and Sandhill Crane tour excluding transportation: CAD $1330 (about US $1000,  £770) 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 your non-smoking vehicle. Accommodation and meals are not included.. Email birdtours@sasktel.net for information about payment options. 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 1-day Whooping Crane tour excluding transportation:  CAD $690 (about US $520, £400) 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 will travel in a separate vehicle. We can communicate via cell phone. 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 $290, £225) or CAD $490 for a party of 2 – 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 25 or October 1 or 8, 2023 public Whooping Crane group tour excluding transportation:  CAD $490 (about USD $380, £290) for 1 person or $590 (about USD $480, £390) 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 tours start about 7:30 am and returns to Saskatoon about 3:30 pm. 2-day tour includes an optional late afternoon extension on day 1 until 6:30 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. This 1-day public tour will focus on looking for Whooping Cranes.

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.

2023 Tour Reservation Request Form

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 would like to register for the following event. *

• 2-day Whooping and Sandhill Crane Private Tour (CAD $1330)
• 1-day Whooping Crane Private Tour ($690)
• 3-hour Sandhill Crane Public Photography Session for 1 person ($390)
• 3-hour Sandhill Crane Public Photography Session for 2-4 persons ($490)
• Budget September 25 2023 1-day Whooping Crane Group Tour for 1 person (CAD $490)
• Budget September 25, 2023 1-day Whooping Crane Group Tour for 2-4 persons in 1 vehicle (CAD $590)
• Budget October 1 2023 1-day Whooping Crane Group Tour for 1 person (CAD $490)
• Budget October 1, 2023 1-day Whooping Crane Group Tour for 2-4 persons in 1 vehicle (CAD $590)
• Budget October 8 2023 1-day Whooping Crane Group Tour for 1 person (CAD $490)
• Budget October 8, 2023 1-day Whooping Crane Group Tour for 2-4 persons in 1 vehicle (CAD $590)

My Preferred Date(s)

2-DAY Whooping and Sandhill TOUR DATES:: Sep 26-27, Oct; 2-3, 5-6, 22-23. 1-DAY Whooping Crane TOUR DATES: Sep 24, 25, 26, 27, Oct 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 18., 24 3 hour Sunrise Sandhill Crane TOUR DATES: September 29, 30 October 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 3-hour Sunset Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions Currently Available: September 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30 October 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 BUDGET Whooping Crane TOUR DATES: Sep 25, Oct 1, 8.

Alternate possible dates if preferred date is not available

Binoculars

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

Leader Transportation

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

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.

Smoking Restrictions *

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

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.

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

Monthly Newsletter

Learn about special offers and new tours.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the monthly electronic Newsletter from Saskatoon Custom Bird 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.

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 2023 is eligible for a 20% discount off any Prairie Lakes Birding tour bookings between October 25 and November 7, 2023.

Other Bird Photography Sessions

• Dancing Grouse Photography Sessions
  April - May
• Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl Photography Sessions
  January - early March
• Goose Lake Photography Tour
• Pelican Photography and Viewing Tour
  Special Group Tour: September 3
• Sandhill Crane Photography Sessions
• Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop
  October 7 - 9, 2023
• Snowy Owl Photography Sessions
  January - March

Other Tours

Other Tours and Workshops: Click here to see a complete list of our upcoming tours and workshops.

Multiple Tours Discount

Can't decide which tour to take?

Check out our multiple tours discount described here.

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