Saskatchewan Birding Trivia

Saskatchewan is home to:

a) The oldest bird sanctuary in North America
b) The largest saline lake in Canada
c) More than 350 species of birds each year
d) All of the above.

Answer:

d) All of the above! With over 350 species of birds to be observed, birdwatching in Saskatchewan is a year-round activity. However, the fall and spring migration seasons present fantastic opportunities for viewing as species both rare and plentiful cross the Land of Living Skies.

Just an hour or so from Regina is the Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary. Designated as such by the Canadian government in 1887, it is the oldest bird sanctuary in North America. Last Mountain Lake offers habitat to nine of Canada’s 36 endangered species, including the Peregrine Falcon, the Loggerhead Shrike and the Caspian Tern.

Another Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, in the Quill Lakes area, hosts upwards of 1,000,000 birds annually. Big Quill Lake is the largest saline lake in Canada, and the region is a major breeding and staging area for 250,000 geese, 40,000 Sandhill Cranes, and up to 150,000 arctic-nesting shorebirds on their way south for the winter. One of Canada's most nationally and internationally recognized bird areas, it is also home to the Quill Lakes International Bird Area.