40 Great Saskatchewan Bird Photography and Birdwatching Tours and Workshops from Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours

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Book a private birdwatching tour or join any of our many group birding tours and bird photography workshops in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Birdwatching Tours in Saskatchewan, Canada

 

HALF-DAY PRIVATE BIRDWATCHING TOURS
FULL-DAY PRIVATE BIRDWATCHING TOURS
MULTI-DAY GROUP BIRDWATCHING TOURS
LOW MOBILITY BIRDWATCHING TOURS
BLIND / LOW VISION BIRDING TOURS
BIRDING BY EAR ONLINE WORKSHOPS
WARBLER ID ONLINE WORKSHOPS

WHOOPING CRANE TOURS
SANDHILL CRANE PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS
SANDHILL CRANE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
SNOWY OWL TOURS
GREAT GRAY OWL  PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
DANCING GROUSE PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

QUESTIONS: Email birdtours [AT] sasktel.net

CLICK HERE for more information about our Whooping Crane Tours and Sandhill Crane Photography Tours.

CLICK HERE for more information about our Whooping Crane Tours and Sandhill Crane Photography Tours.

CLICK HERE for information about Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop.

CLICK HERE for details about Pelican Photography Tour.

CLICK HERE for more information about our Chief Whitecap Park Birdwatching Tours.

CLICK HERE for Dancing Grouse Tour Information

Where are the Best Places to Go Birdwatching in Saskatchewan, Canada?

Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours offers private and group guided birdwatching tours and bird photography tours out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Our selection of Canada Birding Tours makes Saskatoon the best destination for birding tourists.

Some of our special tours include photographing and viewing Dancing Grouse (spring), Prairie, Forest and Wetland birds (summer), Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes (fall), Snowy Owls and Great Gray Owls (winter).
Custom tours and bird ID workshops available.

Our birdwatching tours and bird photography tours make excellent birthday gifts, Mother's Day gifts, Father's Day gifts, retirement gifts or anniversary birding gifts for birders interested in birds and nature.

Saskatoon is located where two major North American bird flyways meet. During the breeding season in June and July about 150 bird species occur within our nearby grassland, wetland and woodland habitats. This bird list is augmented during the migration months of May, August and September when boreal and arctic nesting warblers, flycatchers, vireos and shorebirds become plentiful.

Because both eastern and western North American birds occur here, our Saskatchewan birdwatching tours out of Saskatoon, Canada can show you the best selection of North American bird species from a single hub.

Please scroll down on this page and complete our Tour Suggestions Request Form so that we can advise you on the best tours we can offer based upon the dates of your planned visit to Saskatchewan.

Lists with links to descriptions of our available tours are found below.

Northern Pygmy-Owl adult with mouse photographed by Scott Currie during private Saskatoon Custom Bird Tour.

 

SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER BIRDWATCHING TOURS

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER BIRDWATCHING AND BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

JANUARY - MARCH BIRDWATCHING TOURS AND BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

Private tours available on most dates. Dates of any special group tours are noted.

APRIL - MAY BIRDWATCHING AND BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS AND WORKSHOPS

Private tours available on most dates. Dates of any special group tours are noted.

July - August Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours

Private tours available on most dates.
Dates of any special group tours are noted.

Monthly Newsletter

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

Group Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours arranged by date

Group Tour dates are subject to change until they are booked.
Private tours are available on many other dates.
Click on tour title for more information.

Group Tours: August 26. Private Tours on other dates.
Group Tour: September 13. Click picture for more infromation.

 

Blackstrap Birdwatching Tour
Group Tour: September 14. Click picture for more information.

September - October

CLICK HERE for more information about our Sandhill  Crane Photography Workshop.

Click picture for more information.
Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl Photography Workshop
Click picture for more information.

 

Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Tours: 4 exciting options ♿

Testimonials about our Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours

CLICK to listen to Calgary Naturalist Brian Keating on CBC Calgary Radio giving an on-air review of a tour he booked with us.

Global TV News Report: Click Here.

"I drove to Saskatoon and met Stan Shadick who arranged for me to observe lekking Sharp-tailed Grouse. Stan set up a blind for me, enabling me to take photos in the early morning hours (04:10 to 08:00, Wednesday, May 5). It was a birding thrill for the year. " (L. Corkum)

That was such a great trip!  Thanks so much for the use of the blind and sharing your general knowledge and expertise. (J. Lee)

"We really appreciated your tour last Wednesday; [Our young grandson] loved it!! He also told us he learned alot.  I believe you have inspired him to continue his passion of birding.  Thanks again for the wonderful guiding! (D. Dear)

"Was in a private tour with Stan this spring. The best one I have ever had. Highly recommended!" (J. Deng)

Stanley was as polite, informative, and knowledgeable as you could want in a guide for this kind of tour. We spent about two hours moving up and down a trail along the river at a leisurely pace while he picked out different birds either by their song or by catching sight of them flying by us. He had a wealth of knowledge about the different birds we spotted, some of the other wildlife in the area, and of Saskatoon too. I was curious about his interest and background in birding and he was happy to chat about it which was really interesting. His passion for birds and birding comes through in spades and I'd recommend this tour to anyone. (C Nolan Ireland)

Gift Certificates Available

This tour makes an excellent birthday gift, anniversary gift, graduation gift or special gift for a birder, birdwatcher or anyone interested in nature.

Click here for information about gift certificates for any of our 2023 birding and bird photography tours.

Birdwatching tours

Multiple Tours Discount for Bird Photography and Birdwatching Tours

Can't decide which birdwatching tour to take?

Check out our multiple tours discount described here.

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 or email the tour name, your name, phone number and email address to birdtours@sasktel.net

Questions?

EMAIL birdtours@sasktel.net to book a birdwatching tour, to order a gift certificate or with any questions.
Please include your name and a contact phone number and other pertinent information.

How to get to Saskatoon

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

Other Things to Do

Get more ideas on what to do on the Kayak Saskatoon Travel Guide.

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.

Most Popular Birding Tours

Scroll Down to view our popular fall Whooping Crane tour and custom tours.
All proceeds support the work of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

TOUR SUGGESTIONS REQUEST FORM

Send us your possible tour dates and we will get back to you with the best tour suggestions for that time period.

You may also list a landline or type NONE.

If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, then please email: birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975.

Whooping and Sandhill Crane Viewing Tours

See Canada's most majestic bird. In recent years, the grain fields near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada have become the best dependable viewing location in the world during fall migration to view rare Whooping Cranes, the tallest bird in North America. 1-day and 2-day tours available.

In 2018, we found a single flock in excess of 150 whoopers! During more recent tours we have observed several flocks totaling over 50 individuals. As local birders, we know the best historical places to take our birdwatching tours in search of these spectacular birds.

Driving Distance: 300 - 400 km per day.
Fees: from $490 per person or $590 for a party of 2 - 4 persons in a single vehicle.

Mid September - Late October

Full Day Tours

Multi-Day Tours

Budget Group Tour: October 1, 2023

Whooping Crane - Photo by Bruce Acton

See our Whooping and Sandhill Crane Tour page for booking and tour details.

Dancing Grouse Viewing and Photography Tours

Join our experienced local birding guide for a  3 or 4-hour early morning or late evening self-driving birdwatching tour to view the spectacle of dancing Sharp-tailed Grouse near Saskatoon. Listen to the excitement of the sounds and dance moves of Saskatchewan's original dancers. Many of the traditional indigenous dances were inspired by this display. The birds are more active near sunrise than near sunset.

During the early morning photography tour, you will drive onto a private pasture for a close-up view of the birds dancing near sunrise. You may view and photograph the performance from your high-clearance vehicle. One member of your group has the option of using our professional photography blind on site to obtain images of the dancing birds from a birds-eye level near the ground.
Total Driving Distance: 15 km from north end of Saskatoon.
Private Sunrise Bird Photography Tour Fee: $390 for your group of 1 - 4 persons in a single vehicle.

The evening driving tour will visit a location on a public road near sunset where you may view the birds as they arrive at their lek roughly 200 meters from the road. Binoculars recommended.
Total Driving Distance: 120 km from Saskatoon.
Private Sunset Bird Viewing Tour Fee: $290 for a party of 1 - 4 persons in a single vehicle.

Chaplin Shorebirds Tour

Shorebirds galore! Extended 12 hour birdwatching tour from Saskatoon visiting the best shorebird habitats in Saskatchewan at Chaplin Shorebird Reserve and other nearby hotspots.

Endangered Piping Plovers are often found here. Other 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.

Driving Distance: 650 km
Fees: From $690 for a party of 1 - 4 persons in a single vehicle.

mid May – August
Full-Day Tour

Special Group Tour: July 23, 2023

 

Piping Plover by Nick Saunders

See our Chaplin Shorebirds Tour page for booking and tour details.

Custom Bird Photography Tour

Use our special 1-person professional Tragopan Hokki Version 3 photographic blind to obtain close up images and videos of birds at a wetland near Saskatoon.

3-hour custom tour from Saskatoon.

Driving Distance: 100 km
Fee: $190

Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour

Visit the First National Bird Sanctuary to be established in North America!

Ducks galore! Watch the mating antics of male ducks in spring or cute families of ducklings later in summer. Join our experienced local birding guide for a full day (8-hour) drive to visit the birding hotspots at Last Mountain Lake.  An optional 3-hour evening extension is possible.

See unique grassland and wetland birds during this birdwatching tour. Visit deep lakes for diving ducks and pelicans. Also visit shallow ponds for viewing dabbling ducks and grebes. Listen to the varied musical offerings of wetland sparrows, rails and other marsh songbirds.

Driving Distance: 450 km
Fees: From $490 for a party of 1 - 4 persons in a single vehicle.

Mid-April to October
Full-Day Tour

Group Tour: July 16, 2023

Marbled Godwit
by Nick Saunders

See our Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour page for booking and tour details.

Snowy Owl Tour

See the white ghosts of winter!

Join our experienced local birding guide for a drive through a rural farming district reputed by owl experts to have the highest concentration of wintering Snowy Owls in the world!

We may also choose to visit the best hangout for wintering ducks and geese and Bald Eagles in the province.

Other possible birds to be seen during our birdwatching tour include Golden Eagle, Gyrfalcon, Prairie Falcon, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Partridge, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Common Raven, Bohemian Waxwing, Black-billed Magpie.

Half-Day Private Tours
Total Driving Distance: 150 km
Fees: $390 per group of 1 - 4 persons.

Full-Day Private Tours
Total Driving Distance: 400 km
Fees: $690 per group of 1 - 4 persons

 

December, January, February and March.

Half-Day Tours

Full-Day Tours

Snowy Owl - photo by Nick Saunders

See our Snowy Owl Tour page for booking and tour details.

Custom Private Birdwatching Tour

Want a guide for birding in other Saskatchewan localities?

Have a list of birds that you would like to see?

Hire Stan Shadick for your private escorted birdwatching tour. Rates are just $65 per hour and 70 cents per km.

Email your special requests to birdtours@sasktel.net and provide your name, contact information and preferred dates.

Tour Guide: Stan Shadick. Click for more information about your tour guide.

Year round Birdwatching Tours

Yellow-headed Blackbird
by Nick Saunders

Other websites that have generously advertised our birding tours.

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