Audubon's Conservation Ranching Program

Living in a state where cattle are three times more abundant than people, we understand the importance of cattle ranching to the “Cowboy State”. However, did you know that National Audubon has a Conservation Ranching Program? The purpose of the program is to “bend the curve” of declining grassland bird populations in partnership with farmers and ranchers. Obligate grassland birds have declined by 43% over the last 50 years, and most grassland birds inhabit privately owned land.Audubon works with farmers and ranchers to implement regenerative grazing and habitat management practices that restore the structure and diversity of grasslands that birds need to survive, while strengthening the productivity and resilience of grass-based agricultural operations. Landowners voluntarily enroll in the program. and when they meet requirements centering on habitat management, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, they earn the Audubon Bird-Friendly Land certification. Grassland birds that benefit from the program include Long-billed Curlew, Thick-billed Longspur, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Lark Bunting, all Wyoming Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Nationwide, about 150 ranches and nearly 4.5 million acres have earned status as Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land. Within the Audubon Rockies region (Wyoming, Utah, Colorado) there are 13 Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly ranches, totaling 545,000 acres. Each year an Audubon Rockies team monitors bird populations on certified ranches to ensure ranches meet the bird-friendly requirements. In April 2026, National Audubon was awarded $4 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, through the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, to expand bird-friendly ranching practices across the Central Grasslands, which includes eastern Wyoming. In the next three years, Audubon will enroll 32 new ranches, and another 500,000 acres, into the Conservation Ranching Program.

Here in Laramie, we have the opportunity to support the Conservation Ranching program and a Wyoming Audubon-certified ranch. Big Hollow Food Coop (119 South 1st Street) carries Sagebrush Beef, which is Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly, natural, 100% grass-fed, and free-range. The Bird-Friendly seal is posted on the freezer door. Beef is also available through the ranch’s website, with deliveries made to Laramie in April, November, and December (check with the ranch for details). The cattle are raised on the Reed Ranch, located in east central Wyoming. The Reed Ranch is a charter member of the Thunder Basin Grasslands Prairie Ecosystem Association and is committed to conservation and sustainability — doing the best for their environment while balancing the survival needs of the ranch. More information on Audubon’s Conservation Ranching Program can be found here.

Field Trip Report: Laramie Plains Lakes, August 16, 2026

We had a beautiful, windless morning searching for shorebirds on Laramie Plains lakes. Starting at Blake’s Pond, we were welcomed by Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, American Avocets, and several Wilson’s Snipe and Killdeer. Western Wood-Pewees were heard in the nearby cottonwoods, and a Northern Yellow Warbler gave us a quick view perching on a fence wire. Swallows were still common, and we were able to pick out Bank, Tree, and Barn. On the return trip, two White-faced Ibis were observed foraging in the pond. On to Gelatt Lake, which had a fair number of shorebirds and good species diversity, including Baird’s, Least, Semipalmated, Western and Stilt Sandpipers. We also added Willets and Wilson’s Phalaropes for the morning and were treated to brief glimpses of Soras. The shorebirds were frequently flushed by a hunting Northern Harrier. Twin Buttes Lake was our last stop. Although shorebirds were scarce, we added a few waterbirds including Great Blue Heron, Eared Grebe, and American Coot. Several Bald Eagles were on patrol for prairie dogs, and we got great views of the local Swift Fox family. We got quick looks at young Lark Buntings and Vesper Sparrows before heading back to Laramie. Overall, we observed 52 species during the morning excursion, including 12 shorebird species. A list of the bird species seen is provided here. Participant and Stilt Sandpiper photos by Heather Johnson.