Grasslands, Aridlands, and Forests

We improve habitat quality on privately managed and public lands.
Burrowing Owls. Photo: Sandrine Biziaux Scherson/Audubon Photography Awards

Working on working lands.

Working lands represent one of the best hopes for conservation. These parcels of forests, ranches, and farms add up to roughly a billion acres—or about half the land in the entire Lower 48 states. Audubon collaborates with landowners, land managers, government agencies, and private industry across the hemisphere to increase the quality of habitat on privately managed lands to benefit 20 flagship bird species. Audubon also helps landowners and land managers apply bird-friendly practices on their lands.

Related News

A meadowlark perches on a chainlink fence with cattle grazing in the background.
Audubon Applauds House Farm Bill Support for Voluntary Conservation Programs
April 30, 2026 — Legislation moves to Senate to consider investments in working lands and habitat 
A sparrow perches on a brown blade of grass.
Missouri’s Horstmann Cattle Company Earns Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Land Certification
April 29, 2026 — Regenerative grazing creates critical habitat for grassland birds
Audubon to Expand Rancher-Powered Conservation for Birds Across 500,000 Grassland Acres
April 07, 2026 — NFWF investment will scale regenerative grazing practices to the benefit of grassland birds
Washington Takes a Major Step Toward a Cleaner, More Bird-Friendly Electric Grid
April 02, 2026 — With the passage of SB 6355, Washington addresses a longstanding roadblock to developing a reliable clean energy grid. 
Growing Bird-Friendly Grasslands
March 26, 2026 — The Farm Bill helped Audubon’s Conservation Ranching program take flight. Now it’s helping it soar.
Birds That Depend on Grasslands
Priority Bird
Greater Sage-Grouse
Centrocercus urophasianus
Pheasants and Grouse
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Hawks and Eagles
Sagebrush Sparrow
Artemisiospiza nevadensis
New World Sparrows
Sage Thrasher
Oreoscoptes montanus
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
Owls
Brewer's Sparrow
Spizella breweri
New World Sparrows
Gray Flycatcher
Empidonax wrightii
Tyrant Flycatchers