Best Places to Bird in the Prairies

Three local experts reveal their favorite places to watch birds in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.

In Best Places to Bird in the Prairies, three of Canada’s top birders reveal their favourite destinations for spotting local birds in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. They highlight thirty-six of the region’s most highly recommended sites, each of which has been expertly selected for the unique species that reside there. With exclusive lists of specialty birds, splendid color photography, and plenty of insider tips for finding and identifying birdlife year-round, the book is accessible and easy-to-use—an indispensable resource that will inspire both novice and seasoned birders to put on their walking shoes, grab their binoculars, and start exploring.

Authors John Acorn, Alan Smith, and Nicola Koper draw from a wealth of personal and professional experience to offer useful, easy-to-follow advice for enjoying the best of Prairie birding. The destinations they feature are as varied as the birds that inhabit them, ranging from rural to urban, easily accessible to remote. But for even the most difficult-to-reach sites, the authors provide clear maps, detailed directions, and alternative routes wherever possible to ensure the experience is simple and satisfying for first-time visitors and experienced birders alike.

John Acorn is a lifelong naturalist. He was the writer and host of two television series and is the author of seventeen books on natural history. Born and raised in Edmonton, he teaches at the University of Alberta in the Department of Renewable Resources.

Nicola Koper is a professor of conservation biology at the University of Manitoba, is scientific advisor to numerous government organizations, and is actively involved in volunteer programs such as the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas. She has co-authored over fifty scientific journal articles in ecology and has written for popular magazines such as The Cottager. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Alan Smith spent thirty-seven years with the Canadian Wildlife Service, during which time he helped establish and run the Last Mountain Bird Observatory. He is a life member of Nature Saskatchewan, sits on the board of directors of Bird Studies Canada, and is the author of several birding books, including the forthcoming The Birds of Saskatchewan. He lives in Avonlea, Saskatchewan.