Saskatchewan Whooping Cranes with Canadian Geographic
Departing October 5, 2025
In October, sandhill cranes migrate by the thousands south across southern Saskatchewan, stopping at various localities to refuel before continuing their journey. With them are a handful of whooping cranes, coming south from breeding grounds in Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories.
We have a good chance of finding whooping cranes on our birding tour as there is a fine network of field observers scouting the area for these legendary birds. Along with cranes, tens of thousands of snow geese and Canada geese, with lesser numbers of Ross’s, greater white-fronted and cackling geese, are pouring through, as well as other waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and passerines, especially large flocks of lapland longspurs with snow buntings and possibly northern shrikes.
If time permits and we have seen whooping cranes well, we will venture to Prince Albert National Park and the boreal forest, where we will have chances for boreal specialties like spruce grouse, pileated, black-backed and American three-toed woodpecker, Canada jay, boreal chickadee, bohemian waxwing, and occasionally pine or evening grosbeak, or white-winged crossbill. We also have the possibility to see moose, elk and sometimes river otter.
Meet your RCGS Ambassador
Fred Cattroll
Fred Cattroll has over 35 years of experience in the art of creating images and a long list of honoured appointments. These include recruitment as the official photographer for the Assembly of First Nations’ historic meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, designated photographer for the Dalai Lama delegation’s visit to Ottawa and the Dalai Lama’s Ethics for a Whole World event in Ottawa and The Canadian Museum of Civilization has requested Fred’s lifetime work for use as a national collection.
Fred’s photography is well known for its intimate human touch. Seductive in simplicity, his pictures are subtle interplays of light and image, carrying forward messages of intelligence, honesty, and elegance. In many ways, Fred’s unique photographic style is an extension of himself. Physically distinctive, at six-feet and seven-inches tall, he has a warm interpersonal manner that quickly puts people at ease. While attending Carleton University School of Journalism, Fred discovered a passion for photography. This led him to Toronto’s Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Still Photography. His work has been published in the Ottawa Citizen, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Times of London and the Toronto Star. His work is also in the collection of the National Gallery, Canadian Museum of Photography, the National Arts Centre, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.