Tag Archives: Bird Tour

Upcoming Bird Tours

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HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT. Email birdtours@sasktel.net with the code “RAVEN” to be eligible for a 10% discount on any birding tour within the next year when booked before midnight on October 31, 2020. This offer may not be combined with any other discount. Hurry this offer only applies to the next 2 new bookings.

Saskatoon is located where two major North American flyways meet. 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.

American Avocet by Nick Saunders

Spectacular Sharp-tailed Grouse courtship displays are best seen in April and May. Their displays are the basis for indigenous Plains Cree dances. Elegant and endangered Whooping Cranes, North America’s tallest bird, are regularly seen from late September through mid-October.

Snowy Owl by Nick Saunders

The world’s highest concentration of Snowy Owls occurs here in winter.

We offer many Half-day, Full-day and Multi-day Guided Birding Tours throughout the year starting in Saskatoon.

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

CHECK OUT OUR HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNTS ON THE FOLLOWING TOURS.

EMAIL birdtours@sasktel.net for full details of any tour.

Please include your name, location and email address and
your approximate travel dates (if known).

All proceeds support work of our local wildlife charity – Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Our expert birding tour leader, Stan Shadick, has over 30 years experience as a bird guide for nature tours around Saskatchewan. He is an author and editor of a variety of birding publications and serves on the board of several birding and nature conservation organisations. He currently holds the e-bird record for the most bird species seen in Saskatchewan.

Stan Shadick – Tour Leader

 

Beaver Creek Guided Birding Tour

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HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT. Email birdtours@sasktel.net with the code “RAVEN” to be eligible for a 10% discount on any birding tour within the next year when booked before midnight on October 31, 2020. This offer may not be combined with any other discount. Hurry this offer only applies to the next 2 new bookings.

Beaver Creek is an attractive wooded valley with several walking trails. Here this creek flows into the South Saskatchewan River. Many native wildflowers may be found blooming here in summer. An indoor interpretive centre on site has displays and washrooms with running water.

During guided tours, we usually select the trail with the best variety of songbirds. The trails are relatively flat with stairs provided in the steeper portions.

During spring and summer months from mid-May through early-September over 60 species have been found at this location. Additional migrating songbirds may be seen in late May and late August / early September.

FEES. Groups of 1 – 3 people are charged a guiding fee of $65 per hour (3 hour minimum).

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

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT: A 10% discount applies to tours booked before October 31, 2020.

Step-on Guide Service available for bus tours.

Email birdtours@sasktel.net for advance payment instructions.

All fees support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

SPECIAL BIRDS OF INTEREST

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

by Nick Saunders

Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher

by Nick Saunders

Vesper Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

by Nick Saunders

Clay-colored Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow

by Nick Saunders

Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

by Nick Saunders

Veery

Veery

by Nick Saunders

Orange-crowned Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

by Nick Saunders

American Redstart

American Redstart

by Nick Saunders

DANCING GROUSE TOUR

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Early Morning or Evening Tours during April and May

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT. Email birdtours@sasktel.net with the code “RAVEN” to be eligible for a 10% discount on any birding tour within the next year when booked before midnight on October 31, 2020. This offer may not be combined with any other discount. Hurry this offer only applies to the next 2 new bookings.

Join our experienced local birding guide for a 4-hour early morning or evening drive to view the spectacle of dancing Sharp-tailed Grouse at a roadside lek outside Saskatoon.Many of the traditional indigenous dances were inspired by this display.

Sharp-tailed Grouse Dancing
by Nick Saunders

COVID SAFE. We will practice special safe self-isolation steps during all 2020 spring tours. Clients will drive their own personal or rented vehicle while the leader will travel in a separate vehicle. We will communicate via cell phone while remaining in separate parked vehicles near the dancing grounds.

Your parked car serves as a bird blind from which you may view the birds dancing in adjacent fields. Birds usually dance about 100 – 300 meters away from car.

  • Morning Tour: 4:30 AM – 9:30 AM – April
    3:45 AM – 8:45 AM – May
  • Evening Tour: 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM
  • Morning tours are recommended because birds are usually more active near sunrise than sunset.
  • Trip will be postponed if the weather forecast suggests rain or strong winds. Grouse do not display well during adverse weather.
Sharp-tailed Grouse Portrait
by Nick Saunders

 

Suggested items to Bring:

  • Clothes suitable for the weather
  • Water bottle
  • Binoculars
  • Spotting Scope (optional)
  • Camera (optional)

 

Tour Fee: CAN$325 (about US$230, £185) for groups of 1 – 4 persons. Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services only during early morning or evening tour.  The person paying for the tour will receive a tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee. Client supplies their own transportation. Meals, transportation and accommodation are NOT included.

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT: If you book before October 31, 2020 you will be eligible for a 10% discount.

All proceeds support the work of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation registered charity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESERVATIONS: Send us your full name(s), mailing address, email address and requested tour dates.

E-mail: birdtours@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-652-5975
Text: 306-281-2215

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, Nature Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division. He is a past president of Nature Saskatchewan as well as a 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”. He is currently 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 Shadick – Tour Leader

 

Blackstrap Guided Birding Driving Tour

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HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT. Email birdtours@sasktel.net with the code “RAVEN” to be eligible for a 10% discount on any birding tour within the next year when booked before midnight on October 31, 2020. This offer may not be combined with any other discount. Hurry this offer only applies to the next 2 new bookings.

Situated in a glacial valley, Blackstrap Lake is fed by a canal from the South Saskatchewan river. This deep lake provides habitat in season for many species of ducks, geese, loons, grebes, pelicans, gulls and terns. Shallow sloughs near the lake provide habitat for many kinds of sandpipers and plovers. Woodlands adjacent to the lake are home to songbirds including numerous Purple Martins, Baltimore Orioles and Western Kingbirds. Rarities are often reported from this lake. Over 200 species of birds have been reported in or near this lake.

During our tour, we will drive to visit the best birding locations near this lake. Washrooms and food are available at nearby locations.

FEES. Groups of 1 – 3 people are charged a guiding fee of $65 per hour (3 hour minimum, 4 – 5 hours recommended). Fees must be paid in advance.

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

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT: A 10% discount applies to tours booked before October 31, 2020.

Step-on Guide Service available for bus tours.

Email birdtours@sasktel.net for advance payment instructions.

All fees support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

SPECIAL BLACKSTRAP BIRDS OF INTEREST

Eared Grebes

Eared Grebes

by Nick Saunders

Marbled Godwit

Marbled Godwit

by Nick Saunders

Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird

by Nick Saunders

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck

by Nick Saunders

American Avocet

American Avocet

by Nick Saunders

Wilson’s Phalarope

Wilson’s Phalarope

by Nick Saunders

Shorebird Viewing Half-Day Tour

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July 15 – September 15

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT. Email birdtours@sasktel.net with the code “RAVEN” to be eligible for a 10% discount on any birding tour within the next year when booked before midnight on October 31, 2020. This offer may not be combined with any other discount. Hurry this offer only applies to the next 2 new bookings.

Join Stan Shadick for a 4-hour driving tour to look for arctic-nesting sandpipers and plovers that migrate through the Saskatoon region at this time of year. Mornings and Afternoon tours available.

  1. Clients must drive themselves in their own personal or rented vehicle. The leader will drive in a separate vehicle. We will use cell phones to communicate between each other during the tour.
  2. Tour will be rescheduled at no additional cost or refunded  if either the leader or any of the clients show any signs of illness (coughing, sneezing, sore throat, etc.).
  3. At birding stops and trail hikes, the leader will follow safe physical distancing practices by maintaining a minimum distance of 2 meters from the clients.

What to Wear. In case of an early snowfall or cool wet weather, bring a raincoat, hat and gloves. Bring your binoculars plus a camera and a scope (optional).

TOUR FEE for 4-hour tour excluding transportation: CAD $290
for groups of 1 – 5 persons. Fee includes only guiding services of leader and shared use of spotting scope. Client must cover their transportation costs in a personal or rented vehicle. We can communicate via cell phone. Accommodation and meals are not included.. We can stop to pick up food for lunch.

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

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT: A 10% discount applies to tours booked before October 31, 2020.

For payment options, email: birdtours@sasktel.net and provide names of clients, their addresses and requested tour name and tour date. Full payment due at time of booking.

Cancellation Policy: Refunds less a $100 administration fee will be given if cancellation notice received 60 days before date of tour. All guiding fee proceeds will be donated to Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

 

Warbler Walking Tour

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AUGUST 20 – SEPTEMBER 15

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT. Email birdtours@sasktel.net with the code “RAVEN” to be eligible for a 10% discount on any birding tour within the next year when booked before midnight on October 31, 2020. This offer may not be combined with any other discount. Hurry this offer only applies to the next 2 new bookings.

Join Stan Shadick for a 3-hour walking tour through one of the best bird-rich city parks. We will look for migrating warblers and other songbirds.Your guide will help you find the field marks to identify them

  1. Clients must drive themselves in their own personal or rented vehicle. The leader will drive in a separate vehicle. We will use cell phones or radios to communicate between each other during the tour.
  2. Tour will be rescheduled at no additional cost or refunded  if either the leader or any of the clients show any signs of illness (coughing, sneezing, sore throat, etc.).
  3. At birding stops and trail hikes, the leader will follow safe physical distancing practices by maintaining a minimum distance of 2 meters from the clients.

What to Wear. In case of rain, bring a raincoat, hat and gloves. Bring your binoculars.

TOUR FEE for 3-hour tour excluding transportation: CAD $190
for groups of 1 – 3 persons. Fee includes only guiding services of leader. Client must cover their driving or taxi costs to the city park.  Accommodation and meals are not included..

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

HALLOWEEN WEEK DISCOUNT: A 10% discount applies to tours booked before October 31, 2020.

For payment options, email: birdtours@sasktel.net and provide names of clients, their addresses and requested tour name and tour date. Full payment due at time of booking.

Cancellation Policy: Refunds less a $100 administration fee will be given if cancellation notice received 60 days before date of tour. All guiding fee proceeds will be donated to Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

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