The cultural heritage of those that tend the land and call it home—from ranchers to Indigenous Peoples to ejidos—is closely tied to the fate of grasslands. Rural communities and economies depend on healthy grasslands and the services they provide which include aquifer recharge, productive rangelands, outdoor recreation and more. Despite their importance, the plight of grasslands has been largely overlooked, but a new initiative has launched which aims to chart a better future for this precious resource.
As our population grows, so does the footprint for housing, commercial businesses, and food production. Habitat loss is having a big impact on grassland and prairie birds, and private lands are critical to that story. Bird Conservancy is working with diverse partners, including land developers, to lighten our environmental impact and deploy innovative techniques to conserve iconic birds like the Burrowing Owl.
Mike Carter, founder and Executive Director of the Colorado Bird Observatory from 1988-2001, shares his memories about the creation of our organization and how events at the time came together to make it all happen.
The grasslands of the Chihuahuan desert provide important overwintering habitat for over 90% of the migratory grassland species in western North America. Recently, our team joined partners and private landowners on a scenic tour through northern Mexico to visit some of Sustainable Grazing Network ranches that are working to conserve and restore grassland habitat for the benefit of people and birds.
Brown-capped Rosy-Finches nest at higher elevations than any other bird species in the United States, and their breeding distribution is almost entirely limited to Colorado. Despite residing in an almost pristine environment for most of the year, they have declined by as much as 95% over the past 50 years and, unfortunately, we don’t know why. Read on to learn more about our efforts to solve this mystery.
2017 marks eleven consecutive years of data collection at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in Northern Colorado. This beautiful and ecologically important landscape is home to a diverse array of plants and animals—including over twenty species of grassland birds—that are uniquely adapted to life where the mountains meet the plains.
The Greater Sandhill Crane is an iconic species of the Yampa Valley in Northwest Colorado. Every spring, they return from wintering grounds in New Mexico and Arizona to nest and raise their young in wetland areas throughout the valley. Join us in September in Steamboat Springs to witness one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles for yourself.
Biologists, private landowners, land managers and conservation partners came together recently in Gunnison, CO to share emerging techniques for habitat improvement and restoration on sagebrush rangelands.
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies staff will appear in GrasslandsLIVE, broadcasting live from Pawnee National Grasslands on May 17, 2017. This FREE distance learning adventure shares the important story of North America’s grasslands which provide rich habitats for birds, fish mammals, insects and plants.
Inspired by the vision of a youngster wanting to make a difference, and fueled by passionate volunteers, Larimer County’s Colorado Bluebird Project embarks on its second year monitoring bluebirds on the Front Range.