16th Annual Marsh Madness

Marsh Madness celebrates the return of Sandhill Cranes to Goose Pond, a wildly diverse global ecosystem of prairie and marsh habitat. The property is 9,018 acres. Of that acreage, approximately 3,850 acres are marsh and emergent wetlands, and 1,300 acres are upland prairie. There are approximately 1,200 acres of tree plantings and forested land. Prior to the restoration of these wetlands, there were no records of Sandhill Cranes in Greene County. Now the current high count for Sandhill Cranes is a staggering 25,953 at Goose Pond!

Enjoy the big, showy, dramatic, charismatic, and easy-to-see-and-hear Sandhill Cranes and other waterfowl at Marsh Madness. Venues include the ~9000 acre Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area, Goose Pond Visitors Center,  Humphreys Park, and the Carnegie Arts and Heritage Center.

There will be a Friday evening kickoff event (reservations required) at the Linton Elks Club.  The all-day activities on Saturday include guided bus tours of Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area that is critical habitat for migrating sandhill cranes, whooping cranes, numerous waterfowl, and shorebirds. There will be expert speakers, hands-on wildlife activities for kids, art-in-nature activities, featured artist gallery exhibit, live birds of prey demonstrations, arts and crafts fair, interactive education and information tables, International Whooping Crane Foundation outreach activities, bird experts stationed out in the wetland to help visitors identify the abundant wildlife, particularly the Sandhill and Whooping Cranes and migrating ducks and geese.

Food available on site, and many restaurants nearby.  Free parking. For questions and further contact, visit our website or Facebook page.