5 of the Best Places for Birding Near Saskatoon
From pelicans soaring over the South Saskatchewan River to warblers flitting through aspen groves, birding near Saskatoon is anything but ordinary. Whether you’re an avid birder or looking for unique things to do during your visit, these top places for birdwatching near Saskatoon offer incredible outdoor experiences and a chance to see some rare birds.
As an avid birder I’m always excited to explore new places where I have the opportunity to see some new bird species. So, during my two weeks in Saskatoon I was thrilled to be able to do a birding tour that took me to some of the best places near Saskatoon to see birds. Stand out parks for both hiking and birdwatching are Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary and Beaver Creek Conservation Area.
Thanks to its perfect position, where two major North American flyways pass, over 300 species of birds have been seen in Saskatchewan. There’s everything from adorable burrowing owls to songbirds and the stunning endangered whooping crane.
So, grab your binoculars and get ready to see some spectacular birds near Saskatoon with this guide to the best birdwatching spots near the city.
Beaver Creek Conservation Area
One of the closest parks near Saskatoon for birding is Beaver Creek Conservation Area. The park is located 25 mins south of Saskatoon and is considered one of the Meewasin Valley’s birding hotspots.
Covering over 130 hectares, Beaver Creek has been a nature park since 1913. And it’s one of the few untouched short-grass prairie areas left in Saskatchewan.
The park features diverse landscapes like the river, sand dunes, grasslands, and aspen groves. Making it the perfect spot to see a wide range of bird species.
There are 4 trails in the park
- Discovery Trail – 0.9km loop
- Aspen Grove Trail – 1.3km loop
- River View Trail – 1.5 km loop
- Living Sky Trail – 3.2km loop
During my visit we hiked two of the trails. The River View Trail highlights include views of the winding river, a purple martin birdhouse, and plenty of spring wildflowers.
Some of the coolest wildflowers I saw were pussy toes, yellow lady slipper, and long fruited anemone. Birds I spotted on the River View Trail were a northern harrier hawk, Franklin gulls, and a bobolink along the trail.
The Discovery Trail takes you through more shrubs and forest habitat. Along this trail I spotted a clay-coloured sparrow, yellow warblers, a grey catbird and a number of tree swallows. Plus, there were plenty of chickadees that eat out of your hand. However, it was a windy day, so on a calm day you would most definitely see more birds.
Beaver Creek also run a cool experience – Breakfast with the Birds. I did this and it’s a great way to learn about the park and the different wildlife and birds you can see.
It includes a guided walk, birding, and a breakfast from a local food box company, Style & Graze. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and takes place in the spring and fall. Plus, they have binoculars to borrow.
Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary
When it comes to the best places for bird watching in Saskatchewan it’s Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary! The park is located 2.5 hours south of Saskatoon and is the oldest bird sanctuary in North America.
As the oldest, dating to 1887, Last Mountain Lake was the first protected area in Canada for the conservation of migratory birds. With over 300 bird species found in the park, it should be on everyone’s birding bucket list!
Start your visit at the new Interpretive Centre where you can learn about the park and some of the wildlife that call it home. One thing I loved about the centre is the exhibits where you can hear different bird species! This is a great test for when you’re out birding!
There are 3 trails in the park: the Wetland Trail (2.5 km), Grassland Trail (1 km), and the Shore to Sky Trail.
We did the short Shore to Sky Trail that runs through the grasslands from the centre to the new observation tower. Along the trail we spotted bobolink and heard a few other species. From the tower you can get a great view of the park and the lake that was full of waterfowl.
Plus, there’s a Driving Tour route where you’ll drive past grasslands, water, and past the resident cows that are keeping the grasslands in check as the bison once did. I really enjoyed this option as we were able to stop when we spotted something.
Along the driving route I saw a willet, blue winged teal, Northern shoveler, avocet, pelicans and Wilson’s phalarope in the water. In the grasslands I saw a number of Western meadowlarks, flycatchers, and more! Plus, we stopped at another trail, the Wetland Trail.
Insider Tip: If whooping cranes are on your birding bucket list plan a visit to Last Mountain Lake in the fall! In addition to seeing whooping cranes, you’ll also see hundreds of sandhill cranes.
Wanuskewin
As the sacred gathering place for the Northern Plains Indigenous peoples over 6,400 years, Wanuskien is one of the most unique places to visit in Saskatoon!
In addition to the museum, cultural program and other things to do and see at Wanuskewin, it’s also a great place to go birding near downtown Saskatoon. The heritage park is a short 15-minute drive north of downtown.
During my visit I spent a few hours exploring the museum and hiking the trails. There are 5 trails at Wanuskewin totaling over 6 kms.
The trails range from 0.4 km, which takes you out to see the Bison, to the Path of the People trail at 2.1 km, which is great if you only want to hike one trail, as there’s plenty of unique features along it.
Path of the People trail is the one that I saw the greatest number of birds on. It takes you down into the opimihāw Valley as well as along the opimihāw Creek.
With scrub brush, trees, and water there are a diverse species of birds at Wanuskewin. I heard and saw: numerous yellow warblers, northern house wrens, least flycatchers and re-winged blackbirds. Other birds I spotted included the vesper sparrow, western meadowlark, and my first bohemian waxwing.
Pike Lake Provincial Park
Another great place to enjoy the outdoors and do some bird watching near Saskatoon is at Pike Lake Provincial Park. The park is located 30 minutes south of Saskatoon and has plenty to do during the summer.
Pike Lake Provincial Park has a mini golf and disc golf course, an outdoor pool, restaurant, and other activities like tennis and beach volleyball.
For hikers, there are a number of different trails. These include the Cactus Hill trail at 6.2 km and the Lakeside Promenade at 1 km.
Birding in Pike Lake Provincial Park is great, thanks to the various ecosystems that make up the park. In addition to the lake, which is home to nesting ducks, grebes, herons and other water birds, there are marshes.
During my visit we heard a sora in the marsh. However, it’s also home to Virginia rails, wrens, Nelson’s sparrows as well as red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds.
I also hiked the Green Nature Trail which is an ideal trail for birding! The trail is roughly 1.5 km and takes you through various ecosystems like sand dunes and an aspen grove.
Along the trail I spotted an American redstart, yellow warbler, and black capped chickadees. However, I did hear a number of other species including the red-eyed vireo, common yellowthroat, downy woodpecker and a few more.
Stan Shadick, a Saskatchewan birding expert, led the hike and shared a few more birds that can be found in the park. Among the many songbirds, you can also see hummingbirds, owls, as well as ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse.
Insider Tip: If you’re looking to do a birding tour near Saskatoon, Stan is the man! He runs a variety of guided birding tours in Saskatchewan, including one to Pike Lake.
Goose Lake
A rich area for birding near Saskatoon is at Goose Lake. There are a number of roads that go close to are right up to it and it’s roughly 50 minutes southwest of downtown Saskatoon.
While not a traditional park, many avid birders know that sometimes the most off the beaten path places are great for birding.
Goose Lake is home to a number of nesting ducks, herons, and grebes. Nesting sora and Virginia rails and black-crowned night herons are some other cool bird species to look out for.
Plus, due to the grasslands nearby the area is also home to a variety of other birds. Some spotted there include upland sandpipers, long-billed curlews, Sprague’s pipit, as well as savannah and Baird’s Sparrows.
I saw a wealth of bird species at Goose Lake that included canvasback, meadowlark, willet, Franklin’s gull, avocet, Wilson’s phalarope and a nelson’s sparrow.
PIN IMAGE FOR LATER REFERENCE!
