Mountain Island Ranch Now Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Across 76,000 Acres

Glade Park, Colo. (June 4, 2026) — The National Audubon Society recognizes Mountain Island Ranch as the newest recipient of the Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land certification. Awarded through Audubon’s Conservation Ranching program, the certification supports ranchers in implementing land management practices that benefit birds, biodiversity, and working lands. To qualify, producers must meet rigorous standards for habitat management, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.

Mountain Island Ranch joins more than 150 certified ranches across the Great Plains, Midwest, and the West, representing nearly 4.5 million acres managed for bird-friendly habitat nationwide. Spanning more than 76,000 acres in Colorado and Utah, the ranch has been a leader in conservation since the 1970s.

Since the 1990s, the operation has focused on improving ecological health through habitat enhancements and riparian restoration projects designed to support wildlife, including the endemic Gunnison Sage-grouse. All privately owned acreage is protected under conservation easements, ensuring these lands remain conserved in perpetuity.

Mary Conover, owner of Mountain Island Ranch, continues to prioritize long-term stewardship of the land. “In the wide-open landscapes of western Colorado and eastern Utah, our family has been ranching for generations with a deep respect for the land and its wildlife,” said Conover. “Partnering with Audubon’s Conservation Ranching program strengthens our commitment to healthy rangelands, resilient wildlife habitat, and preserving these working landscapes for future generations.”

The ranch has practiced holistic grazing management since the 1980s, forming the foundation of its long-standing Allotment Management Plan. The operation was also an early adopter of organic standards and, at one time, one of the largest organic cattle operations in western Colorado. In 2020, the ranch expanded its approach to include additional regenerative practices, reinforcing its commitment to long-term ecosystem health.

At the heart of bird-friendly land management is rotational grazing, a land management approach in which livestock are strategically moved between pastures to control the timing and intensity of grazing. Some pastures receive short-duration, higher-intensity grazing, creating shorter-stature grasslands favored by species such as the Horned Lark and Lark Sparrow. Other areas are rested for longer periods, allowing vegetation to grow taller and more structurally complex—conditions preferred by species like Brewer’s Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, and Gunnison Sage-grouse for nesting and foraging.

“It’s this mosaic of habitat that supports a diverse bird community while improving soil health, increasing plant diversity, and strengthening overall ecosystem resilience,” said Cidney Handy, Range Ecologist with Audubon Rockies. “The Mountain Island Ranch team demonstrates a strong commitment to stewardship through regenerative grazing and active conservation practices that support birds and other wildlife.”

With this certification, beef products from Mountain Island Ranch can now carry the Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly seal in promotion and on packaging—signaling to consumers that their purchase supports land managed for birds, biodiversity, and healthy working landscapes.

For more information about Audubon Conservation Ranching, please contact ConservationRanching@Audubon.org.

About Audubon Conservation Ranching

Audubon Conservation Ranching partners with ranchers to sustain healthy grasslands, abundant birdlife, and resilient rural communities. Through our bird-friendly land certification and science-based approach, we empower land stewards to enhance habitat, improve soil health and water quality, and strengthen the connection between conservation and ranching. By purchasing products from Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land, consumers become conservationists, helping protect America’s grasslands and the birds, wildlife, and people that depend on them. For more information, visit www.audubon.org/ranching.