Rainbow Birders Goose Pond Getaway

As space is limited, prior to registering for this event you need to call the Pleasant Grove Inn ((812) 512-9007) and make your reservation. Mention “Rainbow Birders” to secure a room within our block and receive the 10% discount! All the rooms are unique and you can explore them virtually at https://www.pleasantgrovefarm.com."  If no space is available, please contact Wendy@SpencerPride.org to see if other options are possible.

All birding skill levels are welcome.

The Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area is one of the absolute top Indiana birding destinations! It was voted one of the “Best of the Best” on the Indiana Birding Trail! If you enjoy birding – lots of birding - this trip is for you! Late March is a great time to visit Goose Pond – many of the winter migrants are still present and some of the spring migrants are starting to arrive. Although we cannot guarantee the sightings of any particular birds – it is birding after all – spending the nights at Goose Pond increases our odds of experiencing birds more active in the early mornings and late evenings such as the Short-eared Owl and the American Woodcock. And those sunrises and sunsets could yield some great photos! Goose Pond is known for its open water and marsh habitat but it also hosts grassland/prairie and forest habitats as well, making it home to an amazing variety of birds! Some of our target species are Sandhill Crane, the elegant Black-necked Stilt, Northern Shovelers, Green- and Blue-winged Teal, both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Eastern Meadowlark, and a variety of sparrows. Each day will begin with a daily briefing to discuss our plans and the birds that we may see. In the evening, we will gather to review our trip bird list and revel in the wonderful birds that we saw! Within a few days of the conclusion of our trip, a full list of our bird observations will be provided. We will share our formal eBird trip report for those participants who use eBird to document their birding experiences.

The Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area is one of the absolute top Indiana birding destinations! It was voted one of the “Best of the Best” on the Indiana Birding Trail! If you enjoy birding – lots of birding - this trip is for you! We will likely visit some sites near Goose Pond FWA as well. The itinerary will be developed based on birding conditions as we get closer to the event. Potential options include, but are not limited to, Goose Pond FWA (including Bee Hunter Marsh), Bear Run Mine, Greene-Sullivan State Forest, and Turtle Creek Reservoir.

Similar to our Weekend at the Dunes trip last year, this trip is designed to maximize birding and minimize costs. Our accommodation is the lovely Pleasant Grove Inn, immediately adjacent to Goose Pond property! The Pleasant Grove Inn is graciously providing a 10 percent discount for Rainbow Birders for this event. All rooms are modern and have refrigerators, microwaves, and coffee pots. All rooms are on the second floor and the Inn has an elevator. You will bring your own lunch for Saturday and Sunday (we will provide a cooler), make and pay for your own reservations at the designated trip hotel, and pay for your own Saturday night dinner.

This trip will involve hiking unlevel terrains and is not suitable for individuals utilizing a wheelchair or motorized scooter. There could be some longer walks and we can't guarantee the footing conditions. Comfort stops will be provided at reasonable intervals throughout the weekend.

Check out this PBS documentary about the history of Goose Pond. It would be great to understand this context when birding.