Bird-watching becomes almost an involuntary pastime at this time of year for those who find themselves enjoying time outdoors. Birds are everywhere, breeding and building, and Saskatchewan in summer is a great place to actively seek out amateur ornithological adventures.
"We notice that the birds are very active and singing early in the morning," said Jordan Rustad with Nature Saskatchewan under the Last Mountain Bird Observatory and the Important Bird Areas program.
"As birds begin to build their nests and lay eggs, it will seem like they have gone away. They haven't! They have just shifted their activity towards raising their young."
Rustad said this is a great time to look for birds as they will be seen hunting for insects.
"If you want to attract birds to your yard, the best thing you can do is include native plants in your garden," she noted. "These plants attract beneficial insects to your yard and produce cover and food for birds as well."
"Another thing you can do is include a water feature, like a bird bath. Adding a bubbler will attract more birds because of the sound, with the added benefit of deterring mosquitos from laying their eggs."
One of the reasons Saskatchewan is such a great place for bird-watching is that a large portion of the province is within the prairie pothole region.
"Which describes our arid, flat environment with many small wetlands called potholes. This region has been estimated to support almost 95% of all waterfowl in North America. The province also hosts many different ecosystems that birds can use," Rustad explained.
"If you live in Saskatchewan, you know that we are not just flat prairie. We are also badlands, wetlands, aspen parkland, and boreal forest. That means, no matter the time of year, we can see lots of birds. They move through during spring and fall migration. Even if you have never birdwatched before, you'll notice huge flocks of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes moving through and using agriculture fields. During the breeding season, the prairies, forests, wetlands, and even towns and cities support many small songbirds, from warblers to thrushes to sparrows."
Estevan is no exception, with a large diversity of bird species that can be seen within parks and close to the city.
"Many of the species can be seen along the Souris River in Tatagwa Trails. Here you will be able to see and hear Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Ring-necked Pheasant, and, if you are really lucky, a Yellow-throated Vireo. In addition to these birds, you can also find grassland birds, like Western Meadowlarks, or waterbirds, like Canada Goose and Blue-winged Teal."
For a full list of the species you can see and where to see them, visit ebird.org. You can also see hotspots for bird activity using this website.
Rustad said that if you are new to bird identification, you may enjoy using the Merlin Bird ID app.
"It has tools to help you identify birds you see and hear. The song identification tool is especially helpful. The app also has a full guide of birds with photos and sounds."