Whooping Crane Migration Expedition

Day 1 | Into Crane Country
Meet your guides in Saskatoon before travelling north through Saskatchewan’s prairie pothole region toward the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve. Along the way we’ll bird productive wetlands and agricultural landscapes, searching for cranes, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors.

Following a catered prairie lunch, continue exploring migration hotspots before arriving at the Biosphere Reserve. After settling into your geodesic dome accommodations, enjoy an evening birding excursion around Redberry Lake.

Following a bbq dinner, gather around the campfire beneath Saskatchewan’s expansive night sky while discussing migration, prairie ecology and the remarkable recovery of the Whooping Crane.

**If conditions permit, participants may also observe Northern Saw-whet Owl banding.

Day 2 | Following the Migration
Spend a full day exploring some of Saskatchewan’s best Whooping Crane stopover habitat.

Using current sightings, weather and local knowledge, your guides will search wetlands, native prairie and agricultural landscapes where cranes are most likely to occur while interpreting migration ecology, bird behaviour and prairie conservation.

A field lunch keeps us in crane country throughout the day before continuing the afternoon search for cranes, swans, shorebirds, raptors and other autumn migrants.

A BBQ cookout is enjoyed before another evening of chatting about our sightings around the campfire.

**Guests wishing to leave a conservation legacy may participate in an optional habitat restoration activity led by Biosphere Reserve staff.

Day 3 | One Last Search
Enjoy one final morning searching for Whooping Cranes and other migrants, concentrating on the most productive locations identified during the previous two days.

After lunch we’ll begin the return journey to Saskatoon, stopping whenever migration activity presents new birding opportunities.

We’ll arrive in Saskatoon late afternoon with an impressive species list, new friendships and, hopefully, unforgettable memories of Saskatchewan’s autumn migration.

Two expert naturalists. One shared philosophy.

Jenn Smith Nelson and Mike Blom bring decades of combined experience in birding, conservation, ecology and natural history interpretation. They are united by a shared passion for Saskatchewan and commitment to ethical wildlife viewing, ensuring that every outing prioritizes the well-being of birds and their habitats while still offering exceptional opportunities for observation and photography.

Jenn Smith Nelson
Jenn is an award-winning writer, photographer, naturalist, founder and guide of Wild View Tours. She is also the co-author of 110 Nature Hot Spots in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. A lifelong birder and storyteller, she has spent decades exploring Saskatchewan’s grasslands, wetlands and forests, helping others connect more deeply with the province’s wildlife and wild places. She is also a strong advocate for ethical wildlife photography and responsible nature tourism, encouraging participants to slow down, observe carefully and prioritize the well-being of wildlife over the pursuit of the perfect photograph.

 

Mike Blom
Mike Blom is Senior Conservation Technician with the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve and one of Saskatchewan’s most experienced conservation practitioners and bird banders. His work in habitat restoration, species-at-risk monitoring and prairie ecology provides participants with rare behind-the-scenes insight into one of Canada’s most important conservation landscapes. Through this work, Mike brings a clear understanding of how ethical field practices support long-term conservation outcomes. His interpretation helps participants not only find birds but understand how to observe them responsibly within sensitive prairie ecosystems. Mike has also been studying raptors for over 20 years!

Our Approach
Exceptional wildlife experiences begin with respect for the animals we seek. In the field, every decision—from selecting viewing locations to maintaining appropriate distances—is guided by ethical birding practices that prioritize wildlife welfare and habitat integrity. Our goal is not simply to find birds, but to observe them responsibly and ensure they remain undisturbed for future generations.

Together, Jenn and Mike combine local knowledge, conservation science and a shared passion for birds to create an immersive prairie experience that goes beyond birding. Guests leave with memorable sightings, deeper ecological understanding and a stronger appreciation for the responsibility that comes with observing rare wildlife.

Late September is one of Saskatchewan’s premier migration periods, offering outstanding opportunities to observe cranes, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and prairie birds.

Featured Species

Whooping Crane (tour focus), Sandhill Crane, American White Pelican, Tundra Swan, Northern Harrier, Hudsonian Godwit, Saw-whet Owl

Waterfowl

• Snow Goose, Ross’s Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan (occasionally), Tundra Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal (late migrants), Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye (early migrants)

Cranes & Large Waterbirds

• Whooping Crane, Sandhill Crane, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret (occasional), Double-crested Cormorant, Western Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe

Shorebirds

Migration timing varies, but may include:

• Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwit, American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Long-billed Dowitcher

Raptors

September is an excellent time for migrating birds of prey. Possible species include:

• Northern Harrier, Swainson’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk (early arrivals), Ferruginous Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle (possible), Merlin, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon (occasional)

Prairie Birds & Songbirds

• Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Partridge, Ring-necked Pheasant, Horned Lark, American Pipit, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting (early arrivals), Western Meadowlark, Black-billed Magpie, Blue Jay, Common Raven, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco (arriving), White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow (migration beginning)

Owls

• Northern Saw-whet Owl (banding program—conditions permitting), Great Horned Owl, Short-eared Owl

Mammals

The prairie supports a surprising diversity of mammals, many of which are regularly encountered. Possible sightings include:

• White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Coyote, Red Fox, American Badger, Beaver, Muskrat, Mink, Richardson’s Ground Squirrel, Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, Northern Pocket Gopher, White-tailed Jackrabbit, Snowshoe Hare (occasionally), Moose (rare), Elk (occasional)

Prairie Wildflowers & Plants

Although flowering season is winding down, late September showcases the textures and colours of Saskatchewan’s native prairie. Your guides will introduce participants to many characteristic prairie plants, including:

• Rough Fescue, Needle-and-thread Grass, Northern Wheatgrass, Blue Grama, Prairie Sagewort, Silver Sagebrush, Snowberry, Wolf Willow (Silverberry), Western Red Lily (seed pods), Goldenrods, Asters, Gumweed, Blanketflower (late blooms), Wild Bergamot (seed heads), Prairie Coneflower, Wild Rose (hips), Trembling Aspen, Balsam Poplar, Paper Birch, Willows

Along the way, we’ll also discuss prairie wetlands, saline lakes, native grasslands, agricultural ecosystems and ongoing habitat restoration within the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve.

Seasonal Note

Migration is dynamic, and every day in the field is different. Species observed depend on weather, water levels and migration timing. While every effort is made to locate Whooping Cranes, sightings can never be guaranteed. Every expedition is designed to provide exceptional birding, photography and natural history experiences regardless of whether the cranes are found.

The Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve
The Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve is Saskatchewan’s only UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve and one of Canada’s premier prairie conservation landscapes.

Its unique mix of saline lake, wetlands, native prairie and agricultural land provides essential habitat for hundreds of bird species and serves as an important migration corridor each autumn. It’s considered especially valuable because it sits beneath a major North American migration flyway.

Visitors gain firsthand insight into habitat restoration, biodiversity conservation and the partnerships helping protect this remarkable landscape.

Acknowledging the Land
Wild View Tours and Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve respectfully acknowledges that this expedition takes place on Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional territories of the Cree Peoples—including Mistawasis Nêhiyawak, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and Lucky Man Cree Nation—and within the homeland of the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (Western Regions 2 and 2A). We are grateful to travel these lands with respect and recognize the enduring relationships Indigenous Peoples have with them.