This season at the sanctuaries: winter 2025
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s lands are permanently protected and conserved habitat for birds, plants, and other wildlife. They are stewarded, restored, and managed by our sanctuary teams. Learn more here.
Cleaning a bounty of seeds at goose pond
Showy goldenrod drying on the floor of the barn (photo by Emma Raasch/SoWBA).
We wrapped up the seed collection season with a total of 125 species. A few notable numbers include 75 pounds of leadplant, 64 pounds of white baptisia, and 100 pounds of prairie dropseed. While it’s a critical part of prairie restoration, seed collection is also an excellent activity for volunteers, school groups, and, of course, staff. Students joined us from Poynette High School, Edgewood High School, and UW–Madison’s Biocore program. Most of the seed collected will be used to restore habitat at Hillside Prairie Sanctuary (34 acres) and DNR properties in Columbia County (97 acres), and some will go to additional projects in and around the Madison area.
Stiff gentian, a handsome and somewhat cryptic biennial, has been elusive in recent years, and usually we’d be lucky to collect an ounce. This year however, plants were EVERYWHERE! We collected 10 pounds of very clean seed from a small fraction of the plants. Thanks so much to our fall seed collectors—Logan Bahr, Cayla Matte, Sayre Vickers, Calla Norris, and Tucker Sanborn—and everyone else who collected seed with us this year!
Short-eared Owl perched at Goose Pond during a previous winter (photo by Monica Hall).
Plan your visit
On November 30, we received 12 inches of snow followed by cold weather that pushed out the swans and other remaining waterfowl. However, they’ve been replaced by birds that forage on the roadsides: Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, and Lapland Longspurs (to learn more about birdlife at the sanctuary, read our recent Friday Feathered Features). You may get lucky and see a Short-eared Owl or a Rough-legged Hawk.
While parking lots aren’t plowed and trails aren’t groomed, visitors are welcome to cross country ski and snowshoe. Town roads are usually the last to be plowed and when plowed can be icy even on clear days due to blowing snow—so please drive carefully.
Get involved
Events are winding down for the year, but we’ll likely reach out to volunteers this winter to help burn brush piles and plant prairie seed. If you are interested in joining, please contact land steward Graham Steinhauer at gsteinhauer@swibirds.org to be added to the list.
Volunteers can still sign up to join the Poynette Christmas Bird Count on December 27—we will be counting at Goose Pond Sanctuary, Erstad Prairie, and Schoeneberg Marsh WPA.
Learn more:
Goose Pond StoryMap: take a virtual tour
If you have questions, or would like to receive more detailed updates from the team, email goosep@swibirds.org
preparing for planting at Faville Grove
A cut and stacked brush pile on a foggy late autumn day at Faville Grove (photo by Soraya Castle/SoWBA).
After another busy fall season of native seed collection, volunteers and staff at Faville Grove Sanctuary have consolidated seeds for over 200 plant species. These will be seeded into existing restorations and an upcoming planting just north of Snake Marsh. Dry and mesic prairie plant seeds will be scattered over the harvested bean field when weather conditions permit. A little bit of snow can help work seeds into the soil when it melts and refreezes, and native seeds in this region need adequate cold exposure to germinate. But too much snow is difficult to walk through and makes it easier for birds to pick out and forage on the newly sown seeds.
While we wait for the right time to plant, brush cutting season is underway. There is no shortage of work in removing encroaching woody plants and trees to open up prairie edges and savannas. Clearing these spaces will completely transform them come spring and provide new open habitat for wildlife.
A bit of hoarfrost on a frigid day at Faville Grove (photo by Soraya Castle/SoWBA).
Plan your visit
Winter wildlife species have settled into the landscape for the season and spotting some is a lovely reward for braving the chilly air. American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos balance on dried grasses in our prairies, while hawks and owls scan for prey from above (read about more sanctuary birds in our Friday Feathered Features). Fresh snow reveals the paths of deer, turkeys, coyotes, and even tiny mice.
Come see it for yourself on our trails—join us for a guided hike on New Year’s Day at sunrise, or sign up to be notified when we’ll host our mid-winter snowshoe field trip (date to be determined).
Get involved
Winter restoration work includes brush cutting and chainsawing, burning brush piles, and potentially a winter burn. This winter we will also be seeding our new prairie restoration. If you’d like to know more about volunteering for any of these activities, please contact our land stewards at faville@swibirds.org.
And, the annual Christmas Bird Count is coming up! The Waterloo count, which includes Faville Grove Sanctuary, is on Tuesday, December 16—interested volunteers can still sign up.
Learn more:
Faville Grove StoryMap: take a virtual tour
Questions? Contact faville@swibirds.org
A winter respite arrives at FaIR MEADOWS
A Canada Goose flock takes off from Heron Pond at Fair Meadows Sanctuary (photo by Gary Shackelford).
The unique open water feature we call Heron Pond near the entrance of Fair Meadows Sanctuary provides a gathering place for overwintering waterfowl, as well as songbirds, shorebirds, and other wildlife. Several springs bubble out of the ground in and around Heron Pond maintaining open water even during the coldest of winters.
Birds that we regularly see at or near Heron Pond in winter include Mallard, Canada Goose, Eastern Wild Turkey, Belted Kingfisher, American Robin, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, and Great Blue Heron. More occasional species include Wilson’s Snipe, Rusty Blackbird, Swamp Sparrow, and other ducks, like Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, American Black Duck, and Northern Pintail (read more about recent visitors in our latest Friday Feathered Features).
A Great Blue Heron takes off from the water (photo by Gary Shackelford).
Plan your visit
As a reminder, Fair Meadows Sanctuary is open to the public for monthly field trips and events, but not for spontaneous visits. Come and enjoy the peaceful winter wonderland at Fair Meadows at one (or more) of our birding days this winter!
We will again host a Christmas Bird Count at Fair Meadows on Thursday, December 18. We are looking for about a dozen experienced birders to join us as we walk through the sanctuary to count birds. There will be quite a bit of hiking, possibly through snow. Participants are invited to a mid-day break in the house for chili and socializing.
Get involved
We are always looking to bolster our group of helpers at Fair Meadows Sanctuary. Contact Penny and Gary at fairmeadows@swibirds.org to be added to an email list or to sign up for regularly scheduled workdays (or half-days) at your convenience.
Learn more:
Fair Meadows StoryMap: take a virtual tour
Questions? Contact the team at fairmeadows@swibirds.org
Hard work continuing at Hillside Prairie
Staff and volunteer Bob Volenec burn 46 acres at Hillside Prairie in November 2025 (photo by Mark Martin).
This winter is turning into an old-fashioned winter with snow and cold compared to recent mild winters. We are waiting for the right conditions for planting the prairie and removing interior wooded fencelines.
One of the ancient Norway spruces with a dusting of snow during a previous winter (photo by Mark Martin).
Plan your visit
*As a reminder, Hillside Prairie Sanctuary was funded in part by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, and is open to public hunting during regulated Wisconsin DNR seasons. Visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange for visibility during December.*
The area is also open for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. If the roadside is plowed on East Church Road, visitors can park along the power lines. Visitors may also park along the driveway off 1813 Hillside Road, east of the farm buildings.
Get involved
We plan to plant about 46 acres of new prairie this winter, with at least 12 acres being hand-planted by volunteers. If you’d like to participate, please contact Graham Steinhauer (gsteinhauer@swibirds.org) to be added to the list.
Learn more:
General questions? Contact Mark Martin at goosep@swibirds.org
Cover image: Faville Grove Sanctuary’s Laas Tamarack at sunset (SoWBA photo).
