Conservation Ranching in the Rockies

Our Goals
Stabilize declining grassland bird populations in partnership with farmers and ranchers.
What We’re Doing
Working with landowners to support better bird habitat.
Greater Sage-Grouse display at sunrise in front of a herd of cattle.

North America's grasslands are among the most imperiled ecosystems in the world. America’s grassland birds have declined more than any other bird group in the continent, some species by as much as 80 percent. Because the vast majority breed on private lands, working with ranchers is our best hope for conserving them.

A wildlife habitat initiative of the National Audubon Society with a unique market connection, Audubon Conservation Ranching aims to stabilize declining grassland bird populations in partnership with farmers and ranchers. Audubon Conservation Ranching’s enrollment includes more than 100 ranches and nearly 3 million acres that have earned status as Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land. Incentivizing this habitat work for birds and biodiversity are consumers with an appetite for conservation, who support it by purchasing products grazed on these lands. Shoppers see a special package designation – the Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly seal – that sets these products apart. For more information, visit www.audubon.org/ranching.

News
A partial rainbow over sagebrush steppe landscape.
Our 2024 Audubon Conservation Ranching Bird Monitoring Results
September 27, 2024 — Bird activity and sightings on Audubon Certified bird-friendly ranches were noticeably higher this year.
Sunrise over pine trees.
Birding Tours on Cattle Ranches?
September 12, 2024 — Audubon Conservation Ranching and Reefs to Rockies add a new dimension to ecotourism.
A Burrowing Owl peers out from its burrow.
Looking Underground: Why Birds Need Healthy Soils
August 30, 2024 — Soil lays the foundation for the health of nearly all bird habitats.
Storm clouds over sagebrush steppe.
Pat O’Toole
April 04, 2024 — A rancher, conservationist, and friend of Audubon.
A group of people pose for a photo in front of a sign at Rafter W Ranch.
A Master Birding Class Field Trip to Rafter W Ranch
February 01, 2024 — Denver Audubon shares what they learned while visiting an Audubon-certified bird-friendly ranch in eastern Colorado.