Thomas Leicester

Thomas joined Audubon in August of 2024 as the Range Ecologist for Nebraska. His primary focus is working with private landowners, mainly in the southern Sandhills, to manage for natural resource concerns along with engaging producers interested in Audubon’s Conservation Ranching program statewide. Before Audubon, Thomas worked at Pheasants Forever as a Coordinating Biologist to implement prescribed fire in the Loess Canyons of Nebraska. 

Originally from Minnesota, Thomas received his Bachelor’s of Science in conservation from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He later received his Master’s of Science in agriculture and development from the University of Reading in Reading, England. There he studied the effects of climate change on a Spanish agroecosystem in western Spain and the implications of the EU’s Green Deal on managing this system. This fostered his passion for the intersection of agriculture and conservation, leading to the start of his career in private lands conservation. 

Thomas now lives in North Platte, NE where he spends his time travelling across Nebraska and neighboring states. On the weekends, he works at a local ranch, growing his knowledge of the industry and learning new ways to better manage the lands we inhabit for the benefit of humans and birds alike. 

Contact: thomas.leicester@audubon.org