Brett Gray Ranch Attains Audubon Bird-Friendly Land Certification

RUSH, COLO. (September 18, 2026) — Brett Gray Ranch, positioned in Colorado’s jap plains, is the most recent ranch to realize the Nationwide Audubon Society’s Hen-Pleasant Land Certification. Earned via the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, the certification acknowledges working lands managed to assist birds and biodiversity. 

Audubon Conservation Ranching is a science-based certification program designed to assist declining grassland fowl populations by supporting the stewardship of grassland habitats and resilient ranching operations via bird-friendly land administration. Up to now 50 years, grassland birds have skilled the steepest inhabitants decline of any terrestrial biome, largely on account of habitat loss, woody encroachment, and chemical use. Throughout america, greater than 155 farms and ranches encompassing 4.5 million acres at the moment are licensed as bird-friendly via Audubon Conservation Ranching. 

Brett Grey Ranch joins a rising community of 16 licensed ranches throughout nearly 750,000 acres working to preserve grasslands via bird-friendly land administration in Colorado. Situated about an hour east of Colorado Springs, Brett Grey Ranch is an nearly 50,000-acre property owned by the Colorado State Land Board. For the previous 17 years, Louis Martin and his workforce at Round River Resource Management, LLC have managed the ranch in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy. As a customized grazing administration clothes shop, their aim is to enhance working lands resembling Brett Grey Ranch via holistic and regenerative administration.  

To earn Audubon’s Hen-Pleasant Land Certification, ranches should meet excessive requirements of grazing administration to advertise grassland well being and habitat heterogeneity, together with animal welfare and environmental sustainability, and all verified via an impartial audit. Licensed ranches might then promote their beef and bison merchandise with the Audubon Licensed Hen-Pleasant seal to spice up recognition amongst environmentally aware customers.  

Brett Grey Ranch focuses on accountable grazing administration to advertise each ecological and financial sustainability. Their robust stewardship of native prairies, in addition to wetland and riparian habitats, supplies vital rangeland avian habitat amongst quite a few different wildlife sources. By way of current infrastructure growth and the implementation of a deliberate rotational grazing system, the ranch has seen enhancements in organic range, together with a return of a number of tallgrass species to the property, in addition to a rise in carrying capability.  

“By working with nature and the 4 ecosystem processes, we enhance the range of each plant and animal species, enhance the general manufacturing of our pure sources, which ends up in an enhanced pure useful resource base that will increase the profitability of our enterprise and advantages each the ecosystem and society at giant,” mentioned Louis Martin, Proprietor of Spherical River Useful resource Administration. 

Japanese Colorado’s shortgrass prairie area supplies essential habitat for many fowl species of conservation concern, resembling Chestnut-collared Longspurs and Mountain Plovers, which depend on giant, steady stretches of open grassland, and are weak on account of fast habitat loss and fragmentation. By becoming a member of the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, the Brett Grey Ranch brings in one other nearly 50,000 acres of land particularly managed to enhance habitat for grassland birds. Their land can be monitored for inhabitants modifications and enchancment via Audubon’s annual avian monitoring. 

“It’s no accident that Brett Grey Ranch has one of many longest and most spectacular fowl species lists on eBird amongst ranches throughout the state,” mentioned Louisa Kimmell, Vary Ecologist for the Audubon Conservation Ranching program in Colorado. “Their longtime dedication to holistic administration, with explicit consideration to enhancing riparian habitat via managed intensive grazing, has formed the land into the fowl range hotspot it’s at present.” 

To be taught extra about Audubon Conservation Ranching in Colorado, please contact Louisa Kimmell at Louisa.Kimmell@Audubon.org. For nationwide program info, please contact ConservationRanching@Audubon.org. 

About Audubon Conservation Ranching 

Audubon Conservation Ranching companions with ranchers to maintain wholesome grasslands, ample birdlife, and resilient rural communities. By way of our bird-friendly land certification and science-based strategy, we empower land stewards to reinforce habitat, enhance soil well being and water high quality, and strengthen the connection between conservation and ranching. By buying merchandise from Audubon Licensed Hen-Pleasant Land, customers turn out to be conservationists, serving to defend America’s grasslands and the birds, wildlife, and those who rely on them. For extra info, go to www.audubon.org/ranching.