Nature Saskatchewan Spring Meet

Field trips

The field trips on Saturday will explore water and grassland habitat typical of the region southwest of Saskatoon. You have a choice between two morning field trips and a choice between two afternoon trips. All field trips include lunch. For participants of the morning field trips, lunch will be at the Pike Lake Community Hall following the tours. For those who only choose an afternoon field trip, a box lunch will be provided.

Morning Field Trip 1: St. Volodymyr Park, Brown's Lake

We will hike through this wooded private park located on the edge of an oxbow lake. We will look for woodland songbirds and waterbirds. Bring insect repellent and appropriate footwear for hiking. This trip will return to the Pike Lake Community Hall for lunch.
Leaders: Frank Roy and other naturalists.

Morning Field Trip 2: Pike Lake Dam and Fen

We will hike across private land to the Pike Lake Dam where we should see ducks, grebes and other waterbirds. The fen below the dam is home to marsh birds including Yellow and Virginia Rails, Sora, Bittern, Sedge Wren, and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Shooting stars should be in bloom. Bring rubber boots for hiking through shallow water. Mosquitoes can be a problem in the fen so a mosquito head net is recommended. This trip will return to the Pike Lake Community Hall for lunch.
Leaders: Stan Shadick, Melanie Elliott and other naturalists.

Afternoon Field Trip 3: Goose Lake Grassland and Wetlands

We will drive through the grassland district southwest of Delisle. We will make several stops to look for prairie birds and wetland birds. In recent years, this area has been home to rare birds including White-faced Ibis, Egrets, Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Curlew, Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, and Baird's Sparrow. There is little walking involved on this tour. This trip will return to the Pike Lake Community Hall in the late afternoon.
Leaders: Stan Shadick and other naturalists.

Afternoon Field Trip 4: Chappell Marsh Conservation Area

The Chappell Marsh Conservation Area has been preserved by Ducks Unlimited with additional support from the Saskatoon Nature Society. We will hike across this property located southwest of the city for about 1.5 hours. Good hiking shoes are recommended. Rubber Boots are optional. We hope to see an active Red-tailed Hawk nest, a coyote den plus waterbirds and wildflowers. Note that this trip will return late in the afternoon only to the pickup points in Saskatoon. It will NOT return directly to Pike Lake. Bus transportation back to Pike Lake for the banquet is available.
Leaders: Melanie Elliott, University of Saskatchewan and Barb Hanbidge, Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Additional Field Trips

Friday Evening Yellow Rail Hike

Any keen birders who wish to listen for Yellow Rails at the Pike Lake fen may join a small car convoy that will drive to the area from the Pike Lake Community Hall on Friday evening. Bring rubber boots and a mosquito head net.

Early Sunday Morning Bird Walk

Get up with the birds to listen to the early morning chorus. There will be two walks: one along the riverbank in Saskatoon starting at the Mendel Art Gallery for those staying in the city and the other on the Pike Lake Park nature trail for those staying at Pike Lake.

Sunday Afternoon to Blackstrap Lake

For those departing the area via Highway 11 south, we will travel in a convoy to Blackstrap Lake and bird for part of the afternoon (meet at the Grasswood Esso Station, Highway 11 south). Although there is no charge for the additional field trips, please indicate on the registration form which trips you intend to participate in. The information will help us with planning.