Shorebirds can fly remarkable distances. Small shorebirds like the Semipalmated Sandpiper are capable of non-stop flights over 5,000 km, which is about the width of Canada.

But even though these tiny arctic shorebirds are capable of incredible distances, they still need a place to rest and feed during their migrations. For many of these birds, Saskatchewan is the perfect place to refuel on their journey. For prairie breeding shorebirds, the province is their nesting destination. Whether stopping or staying, locations like Chaplin Lake are hotspots for shorebirds to flock.

One of the best times for birders to experience the Chaplin Lake area is around late May and June. This is when the birds are migrating from Central and South America to their northern breeding grounds in the Arctic.

 

Chaplin Lake is Canada’s second-largest inland saline lake. It lies in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan along the TransCanada highway. In warmer months, travellers might do a double take, wondering if there is still snow on the ground. The white banks visible year-round are actually saline mudflats, a testament to the lake's rich mineral content. These minerals support a thriving brine shrimp population, which in turn provides a crucial food source for migrating shorebirds.

Since the area is so rich in minerals, a mining operation has developed adjacent to the lake, which helps preserve the wellbeing of the shorebird habitats. The mining operations maintain water levels, which ensures the lake does not dry up during drought conditions. The persistence of water in Chaplin Lake means there is continued habitat for brine shrimp to thrive, which in turn helps the shorebirds feast. This unique combination of natural and human activity supports a wonderful diversity of bird life.

 

Some of the arctic shorebirds that can be seen staging at Chaplin Lake include the Black-bellied Plover, Red-Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Baird’s Sandpiper and Sanderling. It is estimated that nearly half of the world’s Sanderling population stop at Chaplin Lake during the summer migration. Single-day counts of these birds have exceeded 50,000.

Birders will also be able to spot prairie breeding shorebirds, like Wilson’s Phalarope, Marbled Godwit, Willet and Piping Plover at the lake.

The Piping Plover is a rare species renowned in the Chaplin area. It is an endangered shorebird with a breeding population under 10,000. The birds travel long distances to breed on the prairies — often returning to the same nesting locations.

 

Altogether, birders may spot about 30 shorebird species while exploring the area.

This significant habitat for shorebird populations has earned some special designations. Chaplin Lake, alongside the nearby Old Wives Lake and Reed Lake, makes up the Chaplin Lake Important Bird Area.

The area was also designated part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network in 1997. In that same year, the nearby town of Chaplin opened the Chaplin Nature Centre — a place to learn about shorebirds, brine shrimp and the salt mining industry.

The centre offers visitors a chance to hear about the unique characteristics of the area, which co-founder Clem Miller describes as “nature at its best.”