Birding without borders: Manitoba, a year-round haven for feathered encounters
- Karin Schreiber
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Manitoba is often introduced through its big icons: wide skies, endless lakes, polar bears and northern lights. Yet for those who travel with binoculars around their neck and an ear tuned to birdsong, the province reveals a quieter, surprisingly rich story – one that unfolds not just in spring, but across the entire year.
Winnipeg already sets the tone. Within city limits, FortWhyte Alive protects a 660-acre green space that feels far removed from urban life, yet remains wonderfully accessible. Prairies, wetlands and lakes create a living classroom for birds and visitors alike. Birds can be spotted here year-round, but spring and fall migration bring the greatest variety, as the area turns into a lively stopover for travelling species.
In autumn, the experience reaches a dramatic peak: thousands of Canada geese gather here before departing south for winter. At sunset, the sky fills with sound and movement as the geese lift off in waves during FortWhyte Alive’s Sunset Goose Flights – a powerful, almost cinematic migration moment. It is an ideal first step into Manitoba’s birding world – and a natural prelude to the province’s most celebrated wetland just beyond the city.
At the heart of this story lies Oak Hammock Marsh, just north of Winnipeg. What was once drained farmland is today one of Canada’s most important wetland restoration success stories. Boardwalks and observation towers stretch into a mosaic of ponds, reeds and prairie grasses, where tens of thousands of birds pause during migration. Snow geese lift off in swirling clouds, sandhill cranes announce their presence with prehistoric calls, and in summer, delicate shorebirds pick their way through the shallows. Oak Hammock Marsh is easy to reach, beautifully interpreted and endlessly photogenic – a gentle introduction to Manitoba’s outsized avian diversity.
Von hier aus wenden wir den Blick nach Norden. Weit nach Norden. Jenseits der Baumgrenze, wo der boreale Wald in Tundra übergeht und die Hudson Bay kalte Luft ins Land haucht, liegt Churchill. Der Ort ist berühmt für Eisbären und Belugawale, doch für Vogelbeobachter mindestens ebenso faszinierend. Über 270 Vogelarten wurden in und um Churchill dokumentiert, darunter zahlreiche arktische und subarktische Spezies, die weiter südlich kaum zu sehen sind.
From here, the narrative stretches north. Far north. Beyond the tree line, where boreal forest gives way to tundra and the Hudson Bay breathes cold air into the land, lies Churchill – long famous for polar bears and belugas, yet equally compelling for birders. More than 270 bird species have been recorded in and around the town, many of them Arctic or sub-Arctic specialists rarely seen further south.
The Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC) plays a key role here, combining research, education and guided experiences that help visitors understand not only which birds they are seeing, but why they are here at all. Snowy owls, longspurs, jaegers and seabirds are part of a landscape where science and slow observation go hand in hand. The CNSC‘s birding learning vacation, Springs & Wings, offers in-depth field learning during the dynamic spring migration season in Churchill – an immersive opportunity for those keen to deepen both knowledge and observation skills.
Adding a new chapter to Churchill’s birding appeal is a recently announced experience for 2026: the Ptarmigan Ptour byDiscover Churchill. Known until now for polar bear and aurora adventures, the operator is launching a seven-day, expertly guided birdwatching journey at the very edge of the Arctic. Based around daily excursions by van and on foot, the tour explores river mouths, coastal flats, wetlands and open tundra – habitats shaped by ice, wind and water. The species list reads like a wish list for seasoned birders: Red-necked Phalarope, Little Gull, Pacific Loon, Hudsonian Godwit, Snowy Owl and a surprising variety of colourful songbirds that thrive during the brief northern summer. Time is deliberately unhurried, leaving space for photography, field notes and the kind of quiet moments that often define the best wildlife encounters.
What makes Manitoba particularly compelling is its remarkable range. Within a single province, the landscape shifts from easily accessible wetlands near a vibrant city to some of the most remote birding terrain in North America. Seasons play an important role, yet they never truly limit the experience. Spring and autumn bring dramatic migrations, summer reveals breeding behaviour under long northern days, and winter pares the land back to its essentials, highlighting the resilience of species that endure where few others can.
Manitoba’s appeal lies in these quiet layers. Restored marshes, northern research centres and thoughtfully guided journeys tell a broader story of nature, conservation and place. It is a destination that rewards patience and curiosity, where encounters are rarely loud or spectacular at first glance, but linger long after – carried on wings, across open water, tundra and an endlessly wide sky.
For further information, visit www.travelmanitoba.com.
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