Newly Audubon Certified, Pathfinder Ensign Ranches Advances Grassland Bird Conservation in Wyoming

ALCOVA, WYO. (October 19, 2026) — The National Audubon Society is proud to announce that Pathfinder Ensign Ranches has achieved Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Land Certification. Earned through the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, the certification recognizes working lands managed for birds, biodiversity, and the long-term resiliency of beef and bison operations. Historically known as the Pathfinder Ranch, the property is now owned by Ensign Ranches, which plans to continue its legacy of conservation in Wyoming.  

Audubon Conservation Ranching is a science-based certification program aimed at stabilizing the decline of grassland birds through direct partnerships with beef and bison producers. Since 1970, grassland birds have experienced the steepest population declines of any terrestrial biome due to pressures from habitat loss, woody encroachment, and intensive chemical use. Most grassland birds live on privately owned land, making partnerships with farmers and ranchers one of the most effective ways to enhance habitat quality and connectivity at scale.  

Today, more than 160 farms and ranches across the United States are certified through Audubon Conservation Ranching, bringing around 4.7 million acres under bird-friendly management. With 13 certified ranches across more than 1.4 million acres, Wyoming has the largest conservation footprint of any state where the program is offered. After meeting rigorous standards for habitat management, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, producers can use the Audubon Bird-Friendly Land Certification seal in product marketing and packaging.  

The Pathfinder encompasses a collection of historic ranches in central Wyoming, all focused on managing the lands for conservation, innovation, and resilience. With grasslands, sagebrush steppe, and water resources like the Pathfinder Reservoir, the ranch provides an expansive and ecologically important habit for grassland birds. The ranch also has significant frontier history, with Oregon, Mormon, California, and Pony Express Trails crossing through the ranch. The previous owners of the Pathfinder placed almost 18,000 acres of the ranch under a conservation easement with the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust, which will protect these working lands in perpetuity. 

“With its expansive sagebrush country, native grasslands, and healthy riparian corridors, Pathfinder Ensign Ranches provides exceptional habitat for a wide range of bird species,” said Cidney Handy, Range Ecologist for the Audubon Conservation Ranching program in Wyoming. “The ranch sits in a key ecological transition zone, and the way it’s managed is incredibly beneficial for not only our grassland birds but other wildlife as well.” 

Using methods like rotational and regenerative grazing, managers of Pathfinder Ensign Ranches create habitat heterogeneity across the landscape. Certain pastures receive high-intensity, short-duration grazing, creating short-stature grassland favored by species such as the Mountain Plover and Horned Lark. Meanwhile, nearby pastures are given extended periods of rest from grazing, allowing for taller plant structure used by species like the Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s Sparrow, and Greater Sage-Grouse. The combination results in healthier soils, improved plant diversity, and stronger habitat resilience across the entire operation.  

“Regenerative management and targeted habitat restoration are built into our ranching strategy,” said Chris Robinson, CEO of Ensign Ranches. “Audubon's certification helps assure and monitor the value of bird-friendly management. What’s good for birds is also beneficial for rangelands and the viability of our business.  We want to support precious species in Wyoming, like the Greater Sage-Grouse, that rely on our land for breeding and foraging.” 

The Pathfinder is the nation’s first and most expansive Greater Sage-Grouse conservation bank, preserving some of the largest remaining contiguous habitat for this species. In addition to birds, Pathfinder Ensign Ranches creates essential habitats for elk, deer, and pronghorn. The ranch is partnering with Wyoming Game and Fish to introduce bighorn sheep into the Sweetwater Rocks, which previously had not seen a native population for over a century.   

Under the Ensign Ranches’ new ownership, the Pathfinder remains committed to strong land stewardship through regenerative grazing and active involvement in wildlife habitat initiatives and conservation research. Enrollment in the Audubon Conservation Ranching program will strongly complement those objectives and efforts that align with the ranch’s goals to enhance habitat heterogeneity for grassland birds.  

For more information about the Audubon Conservation Ranching program in Wyoming, please contact Cidney Handy at Cidney.Handy@Audubon.org. For more information about Audubon Conservation Ranching nationally, 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.