Critter Corner No. 30 – The Hudsonian Godwit by George Sly

The Hudsonian Godwit

The assemblage of bird species which make Goose Pond FWA their home, either permanently or seasonally, is remarkable. There are secretive rails, stealthy grassland sparrows, impressive numbers of migratory waterfowl, raptors such as owls and hawks, and a menagerie of passerines. And let’s not forget the bird that inspired the Friends’ annual Marsh Madness Festival,…

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Critter Corner No. 29 – The Crayfish by George Sly

Crayfish

In previous Critter Corner episodes, I’ve referred to the fact that Goose Pond FWA is home to countless small, often unseen, but ecologically important animals. To that list, I now add the humble crayfish. To the casual observer crayfish (there are many species) may seem no more than a bottom-feeding scavenger, or a candidate for…

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Marsh Madness 2025 Fundraising Update from Kalli Dunn, Property Manager, Indiana DNR

Donate to Goose Pond

Grasslands and pollinator plantings are essential habitats for Indiana’s wildlife. Each year, staff across the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife and at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area focus on restoring, establishing, and maintaining grasslands and wildlife plantings to provide habitat for wildlife. Pollinator plantings are essential to supporting migrating songbirds and insects such…

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2026 Calendar Contest

It’s time to enter photos for the 2026 calendar contest.  Time is short, please enter today! Friends of Goose Pond 2026 Calendar Photo Contest Highlighting Goose Pond FWA A challenge to creativity and photo skill for photographers of all ages. An opportunity for recognition in a calendar that will broaden awareness of the natural beauty…

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Critter Corner No. 27 – Dragonflies by George Sly

Dragonflies

If asked to do so, we can often identify an ecosystem simply by seeing a photo of one of its iconic animal inhabitants. Example? A polar bear would surely bring thoughts of the tundra to mind. Seeing a Malayan tapir would just as assuredly elicit images of the steamy southeast Asian rainforest. Similarly, the American…

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Critter Corner No. 26 – Leeches by George Sly

Leeches

While birds may lay claim to the “star power” at Goose Pond FWA, let’s remind ourselves that there is a whole world of smaller animals, many of which lack a backbone, that are of major ecological importance there. Let us focus on one group of invertebrate animals which most people look at with fear, revulsion,…

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Annual Big Sit! at GPFWA – Oct. 13, 2024

Enjoy the spectacular fall bird migration in the company of fellow bird and nature enthusiasts at the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area. Join DNR, FoGP, and Sassafras Audubon Society during The Big Sit! an international event focused on recording all bird observations at one location over the course of a day. The Big Sit!…

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Critter Corner No. 25 – The Spiny Softshell Turtle by George Sly

Previous Critter Corner episodes have discussed the common snapping turtle and red-eared slider.  Another interesting turtle species documented during the 2010 Biodiversity Survey at Goose Pond FWA is the eastern spiny softshell turtle. Softshell turtles are so-named because their carapace is covered by a thick, leathery skin rather than the large, keratinized scutes (scales) of…

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Annual Big Sit at GPFWA – Oct. 07, 2023

Enjoy the spectacular fall bird migration in the company of fellow bird and nature enthusiasts at the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area. Join DNR during The Big Sit! an international event focused on recording all bird observations at one location over the course of a day. The Big Sit! is a stationary birding opportunity;…

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