For residents of Saskatoon, the return of the American white pelican is the harbinger of spring. Once listed as an endangered species, these pelicans are a conservation success story, and since the late 1970s, they’ve been a welcome sight on the South Saskatchewan River every April.
With the support of the Saskatoon Nature Society, Meewasin has hosted Pelican Watch each spring since 1996. It’s a celebration of the return of the American white pelican, and it provides an opportunity for the public to learn more – and to win prizes.
The contest is simple: between March 1 and March 31, submit the date and time you predict the first pelican will land on the river between the CPR Bridge and the Saskatoon Weir. An official pelican watcher will record the actual date and time of the first pelican to splashdown. The most accurate predictor(s) will win a prize. Terms* apply.
Prizes include:
- 1 Raleigh Trailblazer Hardtail Mountain Bike (29”) from Canadian Tire
- 1 Big Agnes Impassible 20L Daypack from Outter Limits
- A classroom pizza party from Pizza Hut
- … and more!
A big thanks goes out to Canadian Tire, Outter Limits, Pizza Hut, Saskatoon Nature Society, and Wild Birds Unlimited for sponsoring this year’s contest.
Registration for Pelican Watch is now closed.
The contest will be open until March 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM. No late entries will be permitted, without exception.
By entering the contest, entrants agree to the rules as set by Meewasin.
Entrants agree to the authority of the official pelican watcher in recording the date and time of the arrival of the first pelican within the designated Splash Zone. All predictions will be made in CST, which is local time in Saskatoon.
Entrants must be able to retrieve prize from the Meewasin office in Saskatoon before June 2024. Prizes will not be available for shipping, without exception.