Snowy Owls near Saskatoon, Canada

Each winter many Snowy Owls migrate south to spend their winter on the Canadian prairies. The Saskatoon region is situated near the center of the winter range for Snowy Owls in North America. Snowy Owl experts tell us that our region has the highest concentration of wintering Snowy Owls anywhere in the world making it an ideal location for Snowy Owl Photography.

Northern Hawk Owls and Great Gray Owls north of Saskatoon

The center of the permanent range for both Northern Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl occurs within the  boreal forests of northern Saskatchewan. These regions are easily accessed by driving north of Saskatoon.

Snowy Owl Photography Workshops

Snowy Owl Photography Workshop Dates:

Year End Workshop: December 29 - 31, 2023

February Break Workshop: February 17 - 19, 2024

Northern Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl Photography Workshops: Follow these workshops

Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Workshop Hotel: TBA
Hotel booking information will be sent to registered participants.

Snowy Owl Photography Workshop Instructor: Boyd Coburn

Host: Stan Shadick

Registration Limit: 5 Participants
Early Booking Recommended

Workshop Summary

• 1 Full Day - Snowy Owl Photography Session
• 1 Late Afternoon - Snowy Owl Photography Session
• 1 Morning Snowy Owl Photography Session
• Hands-on Camera Settings Help during all Photography Sessions
• 2 Indoor Snowy Owl Photography Editing Session
• Optional Post Workshop 2-day Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl Photography Tour
• Both novice and experienced bird photographers are welcome.
• We do NOT bait owls.
• Carpooling will be encouraged at the start of each outdoor event.
• Partial Tax Receipt (50%) will be given to all registrants.  (The leaders volunteer their time so that all proceeds support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity).

Snowy Owl Photography Workshop Itinerary

DAY 1: Friday, December 29, 2023 / Saturday, February 17, 2024

2:00 PM - 2:15 PM Snowy Owl Photography Workshop Welcome and Overview

2:15 PM - 6:00 PM Snowy Owl Photography Session 1
The Snowy Owl Photography workshop begins with a driving tour to view and photograph any Snowy Owls at one regular wintering area near Saskatoon. We normally find between 3 and 10 owls in this area.

Carpooling is encouraged. Return driving distance should be less than 100 km.

You should have breakfast before we depart and/or bring food with you for this tour.

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Hotel Check-In

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Snowy Owl Photography Indoor Editing Session 1
We plan to reserve our own room at a restaurant where we can order food for supper while we download and discuss processing and editing of our first set of images.

DAY 2: Saturday, December 30, 2023 / Sunday, February 18, 2024

7:30 AM - 6:30 PM Snowy Owl Photography Session 2
Following breakfast, your instructor will guide you to the heart of the winter distribution of Snowy Owls in Saskatchewan. We hope to find and photograph more than 10 owls on this full-day driving session. We will stop at a small town restaurant for lunch. Return driving distance should be about 400 km.

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Snowy Owl Photography Indoor Editing Session 2
We again plan to reserve our own room at a restaurant where we can order food for supper while we download and discuss processing and editing of our second set of images.

DAY 3: Sunday,  December 31, 2023 / Monday, February 19, 2024

7:30 AM - 10:00 AM Snowy Owl Photography Session 3
Your instructor will guide you to another location where some Snowy Owls may be wintering near Saskatoon.
Return driving distance should be less than 100 km.

10:00 AM Snowy Owl Photography Workshop Ends

Participants may return to their hotel in Saskatoon in preparation for departure home or plan to continue north on the  Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk Owl Photography Workshop in search of other owls if you have pre-registered for it.

Questions: please email questions to birdtours@sasktel.net and include your phone number and times when you may be contacted.

Great Gray Owl & Northern Hawk Owl Photography Workshops

Fees for Owl Photography Workshops & Photography Tours

FEE for 3-day Snowy Owl Photography Workshop:  CAD $1490 per person (about US $1100 £870).
Fee includes only leadership services. Clients must cover transportation costs in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide will travel in a separate vehicle. or ride in your vehicle, if your prefer. We can communicate via hands-fee cell phone when driving. Accommodation, transportation and meals are not included.

FEE for 2-day Northern Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl Quest Photographic Workshop:  CAD $1490 per person (about US $1100, £870). Fee includes only guiding services of leader and shared use of spotting scope. Clients must cover transportation costs in their personal or rented vehicle. Guide will travel in a separate vehicle. or ride in your vehicle, if your prefer. We can communicate via hands-fee cell phone. Accommodation, transportation and meals are not included.

FEE for both above Workshops (4-days: December 29 - January 1) CAD $2780 per person. SAVE $200.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds less a $50 administration fee will be given if cancellation notice received 60 days before date of this Snowy Owl Photography Workshop.
No refunds if cancellation notice received less than 60 days before date of tour unless another client takes your place.

TAX RECEIPT: A tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee will be issued to the person paying for the Owl Photography Workshop.

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

Why book these Owl Photography Workshops with us?

1. LOCAL EXPERIENCE. Your guides have over 50 years experience in observing and photographing birds in Saskatchewan.  Although owls often move to different locations in different years, they will lead you to the best spots to photograph them.
2. ETHICS. We do NOT bait owls.
   Your guide will show you how to use special techniques to observe and photograph nearby owls responsibly without disturbing these birds. A spotting scope may be used to observe birds that are too far away from the vehicle to photograph.
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 plus many songbirds. Your guide will take you to the best locations for finding these species during this event.
4. BEST VEHICLE FOR OBSERVING. We believe that your personal or rented vehicle will usually provide a better observing and photography experience 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. Winter Tires recommended.
5. WILDLIFE CHARITY. Because your Owl Photography Workshop leaders volunteer their time, all of your fees are 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.
6. TAX RECEIPTS. You will receive a tax receipt for 50% of the  fees.

What to Wear

What to Wear. Wear winter hat, winter coat, warm pants and long underwear and winter snow boots.

What to Bring

• Participants should bring a digital camera with both long and short focal lengths.
• Participants should bring a laptop computer equipped with their favourite photographic editing software.
• You need to plan to drive your own personal or rented vehicle to and from locations where we will be photographing and viewing cranes. Winter tires recommended.
• Bring good a winter parka, long windproof pants, long underwear, winter hat and gloves.

Transportation

Participants on these Owl Photography Workshops need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. RVs and vehicles pulling trailers are not recommended. Owners of full electric vehicles should phone 306-652-5975 to discuss whether their range is sufficient for these workshops. The driving distance may be about 500 km for full day Snowy Owl Photography session and 600 km for the full day Great Gray Owl and Northern Hawk  Owl session and less than 100 km for half-day Snowy Owl Photography Sessions. Round Trip driving distance for the post conference Northern Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl photography tour to northern Saskatchewan will be about 700 km. EV charging stations are available at several Saskatoon locations.

Carpooling

If you would like to share your vehicle with other participants then complete the Carpooling Section of the Registration Request Form below or email the workshop name, your name, phone number and email address to birdtours@sasktel.net

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, Saskatoon - Winnipeg 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.
The previous Covid vaccine requirements have been eliminated.
There are no significant delays at the border provided they have fully completed the ArriveCan app in advance.

Owl Photography Instructor: Boyd Coburn

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.

Owl Photography Workshop Host: Stan Shadick

Owl Photography Workshop Registration 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 owl photography workshop(s) *

• December 29-31 2023 Snowy Owl Photography Workshop (CAD $1490 per person)
• December 31, 2023 - January 1, 2024 2-day Northern Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl Photography Workshop (CAD $1490 per person)
• Both of the above 2 owl photography workshops: Dec 29, 2023 - Jan. 1, 2024 (CAD $2780 per person) SAVE $200.
• February 17-19 2024 Snowy Owl Photography Workshop (CAD $1490 per person)
• February 19 - 20, 2024 - 2-day Northern Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl Photography Workshop (CAD $1490 per person)
• Both of the above 2 owl photography workshops: February 17 - 20, 2024 (CAD $2780 per person) SAVE $200.

Leader Transportation

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

Carpooling *

• I (We) have space in our vehicle to transport 1 participant willing to share costs.
• I (We) have space in our vehicle to transport 2 participants willing to share costs.
• I (We) prefer to ride in another participant's vehicle and will share costs.
• I (We) cannot drive and need to ride in another participant'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

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

Fall Birdwatching Tours

• Warbler Walking Tour
• Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Birding Tours - 8 hours
  Budget Group Whooping Crane Tour: October 1, 2023
• Prairie Lakes Birding Tour - 4 hours
• Chief Whitecap Park Birding Tour (early September)
• Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour

Other Birding Tours

• Half-Day Birding Tour Options
• Saskatchewan Birding Hotspot Tours
• All Bird Tours

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Saskatchewan Owl Tours