Wingspan observation pavilion
A beautiful, restful place for visitors to enjoy the wildlife and scenery of Goose Pond Sanctuary.
Goose Pond Sanctuary is a beloved place for many. Owned and managed by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon), and in the heart of the former Empire Prairie, just 17 miles north of the capitol, it is an oasis for wildlife and people alike. Perhaps you have spent time at Goose Pond, watching waterfowl taking advantage of the bountiful resources the prairie pothole provides. Or perhaps you've spent days collecting and scattering seeds, surveying birds, or helping burn the prairie. Goose Pond Sanctuary is a special place for many reasons, each one personal to you.
Sue Foote-Martin and Mark Martin have lived and worked at Goose Pond Sanctuary for 38 years, and have helped restore it into the beautiful landscape it is today.
The Wingspan pavilion was constructed in 2017 and dedicated in October to honor land managers Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin who have worked for almost four decades to restore the land to native, flourishing prairie.
What is Wingspan?
Imagine a visit to Goose Pond on a sunny fall day during migration. You park your car on Prairie Lane and walk a short distance along a crushed stone path up into the Bicentennial Prairie to gain an elevated view of the pond and surrounding landscape. You find an artfully designed structure, wooden seating, metal sun shades, and bird-inspired art. That's Wingspan; it is a structure that creates a space for anyone – young, old, birders, naturalists, artists, biologists, school groups, families – to take in the scenery and some fresh air.
Wingspan was the brainchild of longtime Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (SoWBA) member and supporter John Kaiser who wanted to honor a place that has brought peace, contentment, and spectacular memories to five generations of the Kaiser family. We are proud that the Wingspan pavilion is dedicated to the work of Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin.
Monarchs nectaring on a vibrant meadow blazing star flower at Goose Pond Sanctuary. Photo by Arlene Koziol
A Look at Goose Pond
SoWBA made its first purchase of 60 acres at Goose Pond Sanctuary in 1969. Since then, staff, members, and volunteers have worked together to restore prairie and wetland ecosystems, and acquired 600 additional acres to benefit birds, wildlife, and people for generations to come. Today, Goose Pond Sanctuary provides habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors, grassland birds, and many other wildlife species.
But it wasn’t always this way. Through decades of work managing invasive species, harvesting seeds and planting native prairie, conducting prescribed prairie burns, mentoring over one hundred summer interns, and so much more, Mark and Sue have helped shape Goose Pond into what John Kaiser describes as the “polished jewel” he and his family enjoy today.
““I watched as the unpolished gem called Goose Pond grew as surrounding lands were first released and later purchased to provide protection for the abundant waterfowl that used Goose Pond as a resting site on their annual migration south. In its entirety, Mark and Sue Martin are the modern day version of Aldo Leopold; their vision, dedication, knowledge, tenacity, and spirit set them apart from others.” – John Kaiser, in his project vision letter”
The Wingspan pavilion is a gorgeous addition to the prairie within Goose Pond Sanctuary. It is free and open to the public - please come visit!
A sincere and heart-felt thank you to our WINGSPAN donors:
$100-$249
Heidi Ahearn
Laura Cominetti and Steve Richter
Kim (Kaiser) Engle
Kennedy Gilchrist and Heidi Wilde
Ruth Oppedahl
Carl and Elizabeth Silverman
Debra Weitzel
Up to $99
Nancy Abraham
Anonymous
Sharon Brancel
Carol Cantwell
Johanna Fabke
Dale Beske and Dorothy Gertsch
John Gilliam
Paul and Jackie Hass
Anne Hecht
Frances R. Johnson
Steve Kahl
Douglas and Martha Maxwell
Frank Myers
Edward and Sil Pembleton
Clifford and Suzanne Perkins
Stephen Pieroni
Nancy Rebholz
Mike Richard
Eric Rossborough
Morris Sadicario
Mike and Nancy Sloan
Beth Sluys
Mary Ann Stewart
Dick and Debbie Trexel
Patricia Wafer
Bob and Susan Wallen
_______________________________
In-kind donations from:
Alec Bromley, Tony Cole, Kristen Cole, Tyler Davies, Gregory Driscoll, Stephen Grant, Mostafa Kachchaf, Trevor Listol, Thomas Schroeder, Kendra Zimmermann, (Custom Metals, Inc.), drawings, supplies and facility
Fastenal
Jim Gempeler and Dan Wolter (GMK Architecture), architectural drawings
Louie Meister (LMS Construction, Inc.), earth works
Don Schmidt, metalworks
Kurt Straus (Structural Integrity, Inc.), engineering review
Wiedenbeck, Inc., supplies
_______________________________
Wingspan Committee:
Susan Foote-Martin
Galen Hasler
John Kaiser
Brenna Marsicek
Mark Martin
Roger Packard
Matt Reetz
Don Schmidt
Topf Wells
Cash donations from:
$20,000 and above
John and Marlen Kaiser
$10,000-$19,999
$5,000-$9,999
James Young
1,000-$4,999
Curt and Arlys Caslavka
Arlene and Jeff Koziol
Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin
Deb Rohde and Barb Constans
John Shillinglaw
Timothy L. Taschwer Trust
Sally Wilmeth and Terry Geurkink
$500-$999
Carole Becker-Schmidt
Tim and Linda Eisele
Irene Ilgen
Dorothy Klinefelter
Jim and Chris Locher
Deborah Loerke
Jim and Kathy Shurts
Steven W. Miller Legacy Fund
Jon and Peggy Traver
Mareda Weiss
Topf and Sally Wells
$250-$499
Anonymous
Judi Benade
Bob and Gerry Bennicoff
Laura Bowles and Neil McLaughlin
Virginia Dodson
Chris and Kim (Kaiser) Engle
Janet Flynn and Greg Tiedt
Joan Gates
Dorothy Haines
Galen and Grace Hasler
Christine Hess-Molloy
Brad and Pam Hext
Brad, Terri, Michael & Sara Hext
Dan, Kristen, Hunter & Emma Hext
Gretchen Hils
Les and Susan Hoffman
Arlyne Johnson and Mike Hedemark
Tracy Jorgensen
David and Hayden Kaiser
Mark and Christel Lingenfelter
Jane Nicholson
Christine Olgren
Bob and Ginny Reetz
David Rihn & Valerie Bailey-Rihn
Howard Siefert
Byron and Lois Simon
Sandy Stark and Susan Slapnick
Debra J. Werner Kelln
Pat, Gina (Kaiser), Emily & Brendan Wherley
Dan Wolter
