Alberta Owl Photography Tour

Itinerary

Saturday, March 7

Arrive at Calgary International Airport (airport code YYC). We’ll meet up tonight for a group welcome dinner to get acquainted and discuss the details of the days ahead.

Overnight in Calgary at The Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre

Sunday, March 8 – Monday, March 9 (B)

These two days will be spent in Southern Alberta, specifically in the Calgary area. This region has a unique geographic advantage as it is located at the intersection of multiple habitat types. In the foothills, we may have the opportunity to photograph species such as the Great Gray Owl and the Northern Hawk Owl. In the open country to the east of the city, we will search for Snowy Owls and Great Horned Owls, and with a bit of luck, we might even encounter Short-eared Owls. Additionally, we can spend time observing other bird species, including Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, and more!

Overnight in Calgary at the Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre

Tuesday, March 10 (B)

Today, we will travel north from Calgary to Edmonton, likely making a few stops along the way. Depending on what we have seen so far, we may look for Snowy Owls in the prairies.

Overnight in the Fort Saskatchewan area, at the Best Western Plus Fort Saskatchewan Inn & Suites

Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12 (B)

For the remainder of the workshop, we will be based in the Edmonton area. For these two days, we will primarily explore the southern boreal forest and the parkland surrounding this region. Our main focus will be on locating Great Gray Owls and Northern Hawk Owls. However, we may also venture into nearby areas for a chance to spot Snowy Owls and Great Horned Owls. In addition to owls, we may encounter other bird species and could be lucky enough to see mammals such as elk, bison, and moose.

Overnight in the Fort Saskatchewan area, at the Best Western Plus Fort Saskatchewan Inn & Suites

Friday, March 13 (B)

Depart Edmonton for your flight home today. This morning, we will have an optional gathering to reminisce about our experiences and review our images and post-processing techniques; please depart later than 1:30 pm if you would like to participate in the review/post-processing session.

Overview: What to Expect

During this workshop, we will aim to spend the majority of daylight hours in the field. Each morning, we will depart from our hotel between approximately 7:00 and 7:30 AM and return between 5:30 and 7:00 PM. Depending on owl activity, weather conditions, and the group’s energy levels, we may take a midday break on some days.

Our days will primarily be spent driving around the countryside in search of owls, as this is the most effective way to cover a larger area. While we will be driving a lot, we will also incorporate some walking during the tour. Most photography will be done near the vehicle, so physical activity will be fairly low. There may be occasional trail walks (around 1/2 mile) if the weather and trail conditions are favorable. The maximum walk might be a little over one mile at a slow pace, if the physical abilities of the group allow.

When we find an owl, we will park in a safe location and exit the vehicles. We will carefully observe the bird’s behavior to ensure that we are not causing any disturbance. For the well-being of the owls, we will not use playback calls or baiting methods. We will schedule short breaks approximately every two hours for bathroom visits and snacks. Additionally, we will take a lunch break at a restaurant along our route daily.