This season at the sanctuaries (Autumn 2024): learn what’s been going on behind the scenes, who you can expect to find when you visit, and how to get involved in the coming few months!
SoWBA photo
The grass is not always greener
Our recent heat wave prompted an urgent request from Graham and Emma at Goose Pond. The culver's root seed had matured much more quickly than expected and needed to be collected.
This is a seed well worth collecting. With its white plume of a blossom, culver's root is one of the most lovely and graceful plants on the prairie. Some pollinators love it including the federally-endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee.
Photo by Graham Steinhauer
Goose Pond Sanctuary Update, August 2024
Over the Moon
Shooting stars are early bloomers and beloved by folks walking and watching those prairies and savannas in the spring. They also see queen bumblebees and other early, native pollinators for whom shooting stars are an important food source. They are highly desirable prairie dwellers and their seed is expensive-- $1500 a pound. So when Graham Steinhauer, Goose Pond’s land steward, called for shooting star seed collectors on Thursday of last week, several of us happily joined Graham, Goose Pond’s restoration technician Emma Raasch, and Hailey Wedewer and Andi Hokanson, two of our wonderful Goose Pond interns.
Photo by Peter Gorman
Gold Medal Volunteers: Mary, Kelley, & Ginni
Mary was at my door, letting me know the nest was indeed down. Having no idea what we might find, Mary and I made our way through the jungle of the marsh area that had two fallen nests, parts of the nest tree along with many other downed trees. And there in front of us, the two eaglets were sitting on top of the fallen debris.
Photo by Beth Berger Martin
