Tourism Saskatchewan is highlighting birdwatching in the province through a YouTube series called “Big Skies, Big Year.” The series follows Tourism Saskatchewan content creator and amateur birdwatcher Mitch Doll, as he tries to identify as many bird species as possible over the course of a calendar year. “This project is about more than chasing checklists,” Doll said. “It’s about showing off Saskatchewan and the birds that thrive here. It also gives me a reason to push myself and explore new places.” Around 447 bird species have been reported in Saskatchewan, and over 360 of those can be seen in the Regina area. The province is at the intersection of two major North American flyways, helping make Saskatchewan home to a wide variety of birds. Birdwatching, or “birding,” is an accessible recreational activity in Saskatchewan, with birds found everywhere from backyards and urban areas to provincial parks and conservation areas. “I just want people to know how how lucky we are to live in a province that has such great diversity [of bird species]”, said Jenn Smith Nelson, founder and guide, with The Wild View Tours “We have two major flyways overhead, so it’s like a bird superhighway. And a lot of people just are really unaware of how rich this this province is in species of bird species.” Throughout the YouTube series, Doll is joined by experienced birders who help him identify species and expand his knowledge as he works toward his year-long goal. “Attempting a big year is no small feat,” said Katelyn Luff, an avian ecologist and guide with Saskwatch Birding Tours. “Similar to the migrations of the birds we aim to see, a big year is a marathon of effort.” Every episode takes viewers to different locations all across Saskatchewan that are prime birdwatching spots. The latest instalment follows Doll’s search for shorebirds during the spring migration. The Big Skies, Big Year series is available on Tourism Saskatchewan’s YouTube channel. Birding tours can be booked through the Tourism Saskatchewan website.
