Helicopter Services, Whooping Crane Field Work – Wood Buffalo National Park

Parks Canada Agency is seeking the provision of helicopter services in support of Whooping Crane monitoring and recovery efforts to conduct:
A. Aerial surveys of Whooping Cranes in 2026 and 2027:
• Nest survey in EC120; 35 hours flight time over 5-6 days in mid- to late May
• Juvenile survey in EC120; 25 hours flight time over 4-5 days in late July to early August

OPTIONAL SERVICES:

Additionally, Parks Canada Agency would like to ability to exercise the following options:
B. Aerial survey of Pine Point mine in 2026 and 2027:
• 14 hours flight time in EC120 over 2-3 days in mid- to late May
C. Deployment and retrieval of monitoring equipment at Whooping Crane nests in 2026:
• Deployment of monitoring equipment in AS350B2; 20 hours flight time over 4-5 days in mid-May
• Nest monitoring visit 2 in AS350B2; 10 hours flight time over 3-4 days in late May
• Retrieval of monitoring equipment in AS350B2; 15 hours flight time over 4-5 days in early September
D. Capture and banding of juvenile Whooping Cranes in 2026:
• Flights in AS350B2; 15 hours flight time over 4-5 days in early August