Great Birdwatching Day Tours and Bird Photography Day Tours from Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours in 2023 – 2024

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Wonder where are the best hot spots to go birding on day tours from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada?

We offer private and group guided birdwatching day tours out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Some of our special tours include viewing dancing grouse (spring), prairie birds (summer), Whooping Cranes (fall), Snowy Owls (winter). Custom tours and zoom-based bird ID workshops available.

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

Elegant and endangered Whooping Cranes, North America’s tallest bird, are regularly seen from mid-September through mid-October.

Our birdwatching day tours and workshops are excellent Mother’s Day gifts; Father’s Day gifts; birthday gifts, graduation gifts, anniversary gifts and special gifts for birders, birdwatchers or anyone interested in birds and nature.

If you are only interested in half-day tours, click here.

If you are interested in our  multi-day tours, click here.

Tour Guide

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

 

Buffalo Park Birding Tour
CLICK PICTURE for details.

2023 – 2024 Canada Birding Tours Schedule

CLICK THE FOLLOWING SASKATOON CUSTOM BIRD TOURS FOR DETAILS.
Dates of Group Tours are listed.
Private tours available on other dates.

December – March

April – May

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

June

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

Eagle Creek Tour
Group Tour: July 21. Private Tours on other dates.

 

July – August Birdwatching Tours & Bird Photography Tours

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

September – October

 

Chaplin Shorebirds Tour

Testimonials about our Birdwatching Day Tours

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

Canadian Geographic Article. Click Here.

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)

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

“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)

Gift Certificates Available Now

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

Can’t decide which tour to take?

Check out our multiple tours discount described here.

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.

Birding Tour Gift Certificates

How to get to Saskatoon

Air: Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) is served by Air Canada, Westjet, and their partners United and Delta.

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.

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.

Other Bird Photography Sessions

Complete List of Birding Tours

Scroll Down to view our full list of upcoming dau tours including 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 your 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.

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 for your party of 1 – 4 persons.

Full-Day Private Tours
Total Driving Distance: 400 km
Fees: $690 for your party 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.

Forest Winter Private Birding Tour

Extended Full Day Private Birdwatching Tour to Prince Albert National Park and Area.

Good opportunities for bird photography!

Join our experienced local birding guide for an Extended Full Day Drive to Boreal Forest habitat in Prince Albert National Park and adjacent areas. Visit best areas for finding and observing majestic Great Gray Owls and fearless Northern Hawk Owls. See Pine Grosbeaks, Redpolls and other winter finches. 1-day and 2-day tours available.

Total Driving Distance: 500 km (1-day tour)
Fees: from $590 for your party of 1 – 4 persons.

 

 

November through April

Full-Day Tours

Multi-Day Tours

Great Gray Owl by Nick Saunders
See our Forest Winter Tour page for booking and tour details.

Saskatoon Birdwatching Tour

Hike through the best bird-rich city parks with our experienced local guide looking for summer’s colourful songbirds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, jays, crossbills, finches and Cedar Waxwings (winter).

Visit best hangouts for ducks and geese during this birdwatching tour.

Optional visits to Zoo, Museum of Natural Sciences and Diefenbaker Canada Centre.

Half Day and Full Day Private Tours available.

Driving Distance: 30 – 80 km
Fees: $190 – $340 for your party of 1 – 4 persons in a single vehicle.

January through December

Half-Day Tours

Full-Day Tours

Hairy Woodpecker
by May Haga

See our Saskatoon Birdwatching 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: $250

Pike Lake Birding Tour

Guided Self-Drive Birdwatching Tour

Let our experienced birding guide show you the best bird-rich locations between Saskatoon and Pike Lake Provincial Park.  During this 4-hour Pike Lake birding tour, we will walk some trails and visit a variety of bird habitats.

During spring and summer months from April through early September over 200 species have been found at this location. Additional migrating songbirds may be seen in late August / early September.

Driving Distance: 50 km
Fees: $390 for your party of 1 – 4 persons.

January to Early September

Half-Day Tour

Day Tour

Black-crowned Night Heron
by Nick Saunders

See our Pike Lake Tour page for booking and tour details.

Prairie Grasslands Birding Tour

Listen to the sweet songs of Western Meadowlark, Sprague’s Pipit and Baird’s Sparrow. Watch for Long-billed Curlew and Swainson’s Hawk. Join our experienced local birding guide for a 8 hour self-drive birdwatching tour visiting the best prairie grassland birding habitats in the Saskatoon region.

Driving Distance: 500 km
Fees: $890 for your party of 1 – 4 persons in 1 vehicle.

Late April – July

Full-Day Tour

Western Meadowlark by Nick Saunders
See our Prairie Grasslands Tour page for booking and tour details.

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 your party of 1 – 4 persons in a single vehicle.

Mid-April to October
Full-Day Tour

Marbled Godwit
by Nick Saunders

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

Eagle Creek and Eagle Hills Birding Tour

Visit the dense woodlands in Eagle Hills and drive along Eagle Creek Valley in search of native songbirds!

Join our experienced local birding guide for a full day (8-hour) drive to visit the birding hotspots in Eagle Hills and Eagle Creek valley.

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

Driving Distance: 200 km
Fees: $590 for your party of 1 – 4 persons in a single vehicle.

Mid-May to July Full-Day Tours

Eagle Creek and Eagle Hills Birding Tour
Spotted Towhee
by Nick Saunders
See our Eagle Creek and Hills Tour page for booking and tour details.

Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour

Join our experienced local birding guide for a 6-hour driving tour to visit the Van Scoy Lakes birding hotspots and adjacent prairie ponds and grasslands.

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

Driving Distance: 160 km
Fees: $490 for your party of 1 – 4 persons in a single vehicle.

Mid-May to August Full-Day Tour

Watch for avocet during Chaplin Shorebirds Tour
American Avocet
by Nick Saunders
See our Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour page for booking and tour details.

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 your party of 1 – 4 persons in a single vehicle.

mid May – August Full-Day Tour

Piping Plover by Nick Saunders
See our Chaplin Shorebirds Tour page for booking and tour details.

Quill Lakes Birding Tour

Visit the multitude of birds at Canada’s largest salt water lake on this birdwatching tour.

Birds galore! The Quill Lakes region is the best place in Saskatchewan for observing Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night Herons.

During the peak of the shorebird migration, about 200 thousand individuals have been counted in a single day! During this time, several percent of the world populations of White-rumped, Baird’s, Least and Stilt Sandpipers occur here along with significant numbers of Hudsonian Godwits, dowitchers and American Avocets.

Driving Distance: 500 km
Fees: From $490 – $690 for your party of 1 – 4 persons.

Mid-April to August Full-Day Tours

Black-crowned Night Heron
by Nick Saunders
See our Quill Lakes Birding Tour page for booking and tour details.

Pelican Photography and Viewing Tour

Watch flying pelicans, which have the greatest wingspan of any Saskatchewan bird. Join Stan Shadick for a 7-hour self-driving birdwatching tour to view a location where hundreds of pelicans congregate before migrating south. We should also see many other kinds of ducks and other water birds. Round-trip driving distance about 300 km. This trip is ideal for photography of pelicans in flight.

Fees: $590 for your party of 1 – 4 persons.

Bald Eagle Viewing Tour

See eagles perching in a  tree like Christmas decorations! Join Stan Shadick for a 5-hour private self-driving birdwatching tour from Saskatoon to view a location where many Bald Eagles congregate before migrating south.  We should also see many kinds of ducks and other water birds.

Fees: $490 for your party of 1 – 4 persons.

November 10 – 25

Bald Eagle photo by Nick Saunders

See our Bald Eagle Tour page for booking and tour details.

Custom Private Birding Day Tour

Want a guide for birding in Saskatchewan localities?

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

Hire Stan Shadick for your private escorted birdwatching day 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.