Wingspan: Fully funded and foundationally set!

While orange fencing, gray tarps, and bare ground are not the usual view in Bicentennial Prairie, this is a sight made beautiful by what it signifies. Tucked into the hillside overlooking Goose Pond is physical proof that many people know and love this sanctuary and those who tend it, and are creating something special to honor them.

We are delighted to share that nearly 100 donors have helped us reach our fundraising goal of $50,000! Because of all of you, the Wingspan observation pavilion will become a reality and a welcoming place for generations to come. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

On site, concrete footings have been poured, and the first of three sets of columns are scheduled for installation this week. The shades are being fabricated as we speak, and the solid oak slabs for the benches are in hand. We are preparing signage, and beginning to plan the dedication ceremony. Even the prairie seems ready, with its incredible show of flowers and abundance of birds and insects.

Through all of this hustle and bustle, Mark Martin and Susan Foote-Martin continue their dedicated work on the land at Goose Pond Sanctuary. They're graduating interns, controlling invasives, counting butterflies, and conducting outreach. Your support and respect for these humble and wonderful land managers are well founded.

Everyone is welcome to visit the Wingspan site at Goose Pond (follow the path up and to the left of the kiosk), and see the fruits of your generosity.

Sincerely,
The Wingspan Committee

John Kaiser, Galen Hasler, Brenna Marsicek, Roger Packard, Matt Reetz, Don Schmidt, and Topf Wells, in collaboration with Mark Martin and Susan Foote-Martin

From the Rise of Goose Pond

Bicentennial Prairie surrounds the future Wingspan site, and is absolutely stunning right now! Photo by Brenna Marsicek

The view from Bicentennial Prairie right now is simply glorious. The space for the new Wingspan observation platform has been cleared and leveled, and the prairie is in full bloom in anticipation of its arrival.

This project is a community-spurred effort, initiated by Madison Audubon member John Kaiser, dedicated to Goose Pond Sanctuary land managers Mark and Sue Martin, and funded entirely by those who love and support Goose Pond -- that's YOU and your fellow members! Learn more here.

A preview of what you'll see from the Wingspan platform. Photo by Arlene Koziol

Here are a few exciting updates on the Wingspan project. By all means, please come out to Goose Pond and see them for yourself!

• The footprint for pavilion has been cleared and leveled (see photo below), and the concrete footings will be poured in the next few weeks.

• Materials for the shades are in hand, and their production is underway.

• The Prairie Lane road and turn-around will soon be expanded to accommodate Wingspan visitors.

• Benches have been ordered and will be delivered once the shades are installed.

• Plans for the dedication ceremony this fall will begin shortly. Stay tuned!

This half-circle scrape is the footprint of the future Wingspan site. More to come soon! MAS Photo

Mark the date: August 15

Donations to Wingspan of any amount are welcome and truly appreciated. All donors are listed on our website and in the newsletter.

Folks giving over $250 will be recognized on a permanent plaque on site. If you'd like your name or the name of someone you'd like to honor to appear on the plaque in time for the dedication ceremony this fall, please donate by August 15. Donations received after that date will be listed on the website and, for donations of $250 or more, on a second plaque installed at a later date.

Thank you for your enthusiasm, support, and vision! We look forward to sharing a splendid view and a long-lasting memory with you at Wingspan soon.

A Wingspan Update

Creating and leveling the space for the future Wingspan platform. Photo by Mark Martin

Wow, we are just floored by your generosity! Wingspan continues to make progress, thanks to the donations of dozens of supporters. This month, construction has begun. The footprint for the observation platform has been leveled and concrete footings will soon be poured. The fill to expand the parking and turnaround areas has arrived. It's an exciting process, and you're entirely to thank!

We are almost at our fundraising goal, but still have a few thousand to go. If you know of anyone who would like to put their fingerprints on the project, please share this information with them!

Thank you for your involvement! Stay tuned for more updates!

Sincerely,
The Wingspan Committee

Galen Hasler, John Kaiser, Brenna Marsicek, Mark and Sue Martin, Roger Packard, Matt Reetz, Don Schmidt, Topf Wells

From the Educators: We're beginning to think thoughts of Spring

The weather is beginning to warm, little feet are getting muddy, and we’re gearing up for
spring migration and end-of-school-year field trips.

Face to face with Wilson, the MAS stuffed Great Gray Owl (Vera Court)

This Spring Madison Audubon is providing after school programming at three different community centers: Vera Court, Bayview and Salvation Army. Through these programs we helped underserved city kids learn about themselves through nature exploration. Highlights of these lessons include dissecting owl pellets with Vera Court, scavenger hunts and science-art projects with Salvation Army, and neighborhood birding walks with Bayview. We have about four more weeks of lessons with these kiddos before summer programming begins.

Education intern, Abe, shares a snapping turtle shell with students (Bayview)

Our Education Interns, Abe Lenoch (teaching at Bayview) and Olivia Sanderfoot
(teaching at Vera Court), are winning kids over with fun, engaging STEM lessons and cool animal facts. They are greeted for each lesson with huge smiles and stories about the birds, bugs, and wildlife that kids have seen since their last visit. We love watching Abe and Olivia grow as educators! They both have an undeniable talent for connecting with kids and making learning fun.

Lincoln Elementary students have been growing by leaps and bounds! They walked to Wingra Creek again, beating their old travel time by a whopping 20 minutes. They then compared their phenology findings from this trip to the last one taken in early December. These students have also been learning about the effects climate change will have on birds
and other Wisconsin Wildlife. Last week they completed our Carbon Cycle and
Greenhouse Effect lessons: big ideas for 4th graders!

Education intern, Olivia, helps a student ID mammal bones found in an owl pellet (Vera Court)

In April and May we are looking forward to taking several different school groups out
on field trips to local natural areas. Transportation costs are one of the biggest hurdles for
teachers taking kids on field trips. Because of you, we are able to provide free bussing to
kids who really deserve it. We will focus primarily on middle and high school groups from
underserved schools. These are the groups with the least opportunity to get out and
explore nature.

This work was made possible by you! Thank you for helping Madison Audubon
Society connect kids with nature!

Great Lakes at Great Risk

A view of Lake Superior from Madeline Island, Wisconsin

As Wisconsinites, the Great Lakes hold a special place in our lives. We're fortunate to live in a state which borders two of them, with a third within a few hours' drive. As a result, we are attuned to the importance, power, and fragility of the system. And the value of the Lakes for birds - resident and migratory both - is indescribable!

Like many times in the past, the Great Lakes system is again at risk, this time from severe budget cuts to one of the leading initiatives that fosters protection and restoration of the lakes. The federal administration has proposed to cut the Environmental Protection Agency 's funding by 40% and within those cuts, a 97% cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Learn more about the situation and what you can do by clicking here.