2024 Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival

Monday, February 19, 2024

Photos by Patti Danner

The annual Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival, put on by the Friends of Goose Pond (FoGP) in partnership with Goose Pond FWA and with the help of many civic organizations and businesses from Greene County and beyond, as well as numerous conservation organizations, went off without a hitch February 16 and 17, despite the cold temperatures and Friday’s snowfall.

Friends of Goose Pond President Dane Strahle addresses the guests at Friday's kickoff banquet at the Elks Lodge in Linton. (Photo by Patti Danner)
A selection of plastic models of the skulls of various Indiana species was on display. (Photo by Patti Danner)
The inner workings of the head of a snapping turtle. (Photo by Patti Danner)
An original painting of a barn owl by Artist Bruce Neckar sold for $625 at auction Friday evening. (Photo by Patti Danner)

Artwork for sale in the silent auction. (Photo by Patti Danner)
A box of origami cranes offered in the silent auction. (Photo by Patti Danner)
FoGP's George Sly presents Goose Pond Intern and senior at St. Mary of the Woods College, Gillian Perry, a $1,000 scholarship award from the Friends of Goose Pond. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Goose Pond FWA Property Manager Kalli Dunn. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Goose Pond FWA Assistant Property Manager Ethan Plummer. (Photo by Patti Danner)
The Neckar painting garnered a bidding war, finally selling for $625. (Photo by Patti Danner)
A bio of Artist Bruce Neckar. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Ethan Estabrook of the Hoosier Herpetological Society speaks with some young reptile fans. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Estabrook brought an Autralian Crested Gecko to the festival. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Natural History Interpreter George Sly shows the tiny skull of a tiny Indiana bat. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Not-so-tiny Indiana bats shown by Sly. (Photo by Patti Danner)
International Crane Foundation Volunteer Margaret Dennis speaks with a fellow vendor. (Photo by Patti Danner)
The skull of a Sandhill Crane. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Colorful gourds become birdhouses offered by Greene Water Goods. (Photo by Patti Danner)
The nesting box that is currently the home of a pair of endangered Indiana Barn Owls at the Goose Pond Visitors Center. (Photo by Patti Danner)
Viewing posts at the Visitors Center. (Photo by Patti Danner)
The Visitors Center offers a paved walking trail. (Photo by Patti Danner)
One of the dozens of waves of sandhill cranes coming in for a landing at Goose Pond FWA. (Photo by Patti Danner)