Audubon Goose Pond is a hotspot for birding, particularly during spring or autumn migrations when many species of shorebirds and waterfowl, in particular, stop here. Also known as Goose Pond Sanctuary, over 240 species of birds have been spotted here. Hundreds of tundra swans and Canada geese congregate here during migration season. The site itself isn’t all that remarkable; a glacial pothole is filled mainly by runoff and water levels fluctuate seasonally. There is a gravel lane (Prairie Ln) along which you can stop or a gravel pull-off off of Goose Pond Rd. The SNA consists of the pond on the west side of Goose Pond Rd and a small bit of prairie south of Prairie Ln but not the smaller pond on the other side of Goose Pond Rd. There is a decent bit of prairie that is not in the SNA further south of Prairie Ln as well as a few other Madison Audubon prairie parcels that are technically part of the MAS’ Goose Pond Sanctuary, but not part of the SNA (visit the MAS site for more information on these):
- Sue Ames Prairie
- Hopkins Road Prairie
- Ankenbrandt Prairie
- Browne Prairie
- Lapinski-Kitze Prairie
- Jill’s Prairie
- Wood Family Prairie
- Bicentennial Prairie
If you are coming for birds, bring binoculars and/or spotting scope. Visitors are not supposed to leave the road and approach the pond from any side.
More of my photos from Audubon Goose Pond can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 86 |
| County | Columbia |
| Parking | Parking area/road (gravel) |
| Trails | No |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | Yes |
| Ownership | Madison Audubon Society; (More Info: Wisconsin DNR) |
| Located Within | na |
| Dates Visited | 7.11.09 / 10.31.09 / 4.3.10 / 3.30.14 / 4.18.14 / 11.22.15 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 