Saskatchewan has some great diversity. Many would tell you it is a great place to drive through and get behind you and that it is flat and empty but for me it is one of my favourite places to stop. Exploring it north and south rather than just on the #1 Trans Canada Highway reveals a lot. If you ever wanted to expand your birding, the province has 346 recorded RG bird species. It is right on the Central Flyway where millions of birds migrate North and South. Seeing flocks greater than 5,000 can be common in the spring and fall. There is the opportunity to see raptors riding thermals on their migration or just standing in a field seemingly taking a break. About 12% of the province is freshwater so waterfowl can abound during this time. There are thousands of lakes north of Prince Albert - so lots of wetlands along with its richness and boreal forests. A 30 minute detour on the drive from Saskatoon to Waskesiu could give you the opportunity to see Whooping Crane in late September /early October. Between the Boreal Forests to the north and the Grasslands to the south are Aspen Parklands. Grasslands National Park on the southern border gives a great chance to see Bison freely roaming and they are also present up in the Prince Albert Nat. Park. Grasslands also hosts Pronghorn, Burrowing Owl, and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. To get exposure with Saskatoons birds I joined their annual bird count doing tally for one crew while the experts pointed out and heard the birds. The province is not a one biome show.
I found out today that there are a number of alkaline salt lakes in Saskatchewan (Manitou lake, for example). From what I read, they are low points in the terminal morraine carved by glaciation during the last ice age. They are endorheic lakes, meaning no outflow, which leads to concentration of minerals in the water. I don’t know if they have tufa columns like those at Mono Lake in California, but salt lakes tend to be unique habitats for salt-adapted plants, insects (particularly flies), and the shorebirds that feed on them. Another cool spot to add to my list!