Scheduled Day Trips
Our scheduled day trips offer set-date birding tours across Alberta, designed to showcase the province’s under-appreciated avian diversity. As a specialized birding tour operator, we know exactly where to find the birds and how to make the most of each outing. Each tour is carefully designed based on the time of year and what species we can expect to find. The cost includes professional guiding services from Gavin McKinnon, co-author of A Field Guide to the Birds of Alberta, along with transportation in a 15-passenger van, light snacks, and drinking water. These sessions are designed to be both enjoyable and educational, helping participants improve their bird identification skills, learn effective techniques for locating birds, and gain a deeper understanding of their role within the ecosystem. Each tour requires 6 participants to be confirmed.
Upcoming Day Trips 2026
May 18, 2026 - Calgary Big Day ($149 per person + GST)
This day-trip promises to be an exciting full day of birding around the outskirts of Calgary. We’ll explore a variety of rich habitats, including Water Valley, Irricana Sloughs, Weed Lake, McKinnon Flats, and the Weaselhead Natural Area. We will meet at the Brentwood LRT Station at 6:00 AM and return between 5:00–6:00 PM, so be prepared for a full and rewarding day in the field. With spring migration underway, and many breeding species on territory we can expect to observe 100+ bird species over the course of the outing.
This day-trip promises to be an exciting full day of birding around the outskirts of Calgary. We’ll explore a variety of rich habitats, including Water Valley, Irricana Sloughs, Weed Lake, McKinnon Flats, and the Weaselhead Natural Area. We will meet at the Brentwood LRT Station at 6:00 AM and return between 5:00–6:00 PM, so be prepared for a full and rewarding day in the field. With spring migration underway, and many breeding species on territory we can expect to observe 100+ bird species over the course of the outing.
May 25, 2026 - Edmonton Big Day ($149 per person + GST)
Join us for a full day of birding in the Edmonton area as we explore some of the top hotspots on the city’s east side in the aspen parkland habitat. Our itinerary includes visits to the Bruderheim Natural Area, Fort Saskatchewan Gravel Pits, Elk Island National Park, and the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, each offering excellent opportunities to observe a wide variety of species and habitats. We will depart Edmonton at 6:00 AM and return between 5:00–6:00 PM, so please be prepared for a full day in the field. With luck, we hope to record 100+ bird species throughout the outing.
Join us for a full day of birding in the Edmonton area as we explore some of the top hotspots on the city’s east side in the aspen parkland habitat. Our itinerary includes visits to the Bruderheim Natural Area, Fort Saskatchewan Gravel Pits, Elk Island National Park, and the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, each offering excellent opportunities to observe a wide variety of species and habitats. We will depart Edmonton at 6:00 AM and return between 5:00–6:00 PM, so please be prepared for a full day in the field. With luck, we hope to record 100+ bird species throughout the outing.
July 25, 2025 - Shorebird Identification Workshop ($149 per person + GST)
Southern Alberta offers exceptional opportunities to observe migrating shorebirds during their southbound migration. However, shorebird identification can be challenging due to subtle plumage differences. This workshop addresses those challenges through instruction and hands-on experience. Today, we will travel east and south of Calgary to key shorebird sites, including Weed Lake, Namaka Lake, Frank Lake, and Brant Colony Slough (among others). We will depart Calgary at 7:00 am and aim to return between 6:00 and 7:00pm.
Southern Alberta offers exceptional opportunities to observe migrating shorebirds during their southbound migration. However, shorebird identification can be challenging due to subtle plumage differences. This workshop addresses those challenges through instruction and hands-on experience. Today, we will travel east and south of Calgary to key shorebird sites, including Weed Lake, Namaka Lake, Frank Lake, and Brant Colony Slough (among others). We will depart Calgary at 7:00 am and aim to return between 6:00 and 7:00pm.
September 12, 2026 - Fall Migration Birding ($149 per person + GST)
This day trip explores fall migration hotspots east of Calgary, focusing on songbirds and raptors, shorebirds, and waterfowl. We begin at Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, where riparian habitat along the Bow River attracts migrating warblers, sparrows, and other songbirds. Next, we visit Marsland Basin, a productive wetland and shrubland area. Here we’ll search for mixed flocks of passerines, along with blackbirds, and we should find diversity among the ducks and shorebirds. In the afternoon, we travel to Tillebrook Provincial Park near Brooks. This site offers excellent opportunities to observe migrating raptors, such as Sharp-shinned, Ferruginous, and Broad-winged Hawks flying over, as well as more migrant songbirds. We will depart Calgary at 6:30 am and return between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.
This day trip explores fall migration hotspots east of Calgary, focusing on songbirds and raptors, shorebirds, and waterfowl. We begin at Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, where riparian habitat along the Bow River attracts migrating warblers, sparrows, and other songbirds. Next, we visit Marsland Basin, a productive wetland and shrubland area. Here we’ll search for mixed flocks of passerines, along with blackbirds, and we should find diversity among the ducks and shorebirds. In the afternoon, we travel to Tillebrook Provincial Park near Brooks. This site offers excellent opportunities to observe migrating raptors, such as Sharp-shinned, Ferruginous, and Broad-winged Hawks flying over, as well as more migrant songbirds. We will depart Calgary at 6:30 am and return between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.