Grasslands, Aridlands, and Forests

We improve habitat quality on privately managed and public lands.
Burrowing Owls. Photo: Sandrine Biziaux Scherson/̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ 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. ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ 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. ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ also helps landowners and land managers apply bird-friendly practices on their lands.

Related News

Advocating for Birds and Working Lands in a Conservation-Forward Farm Bill
July 10, 2026 — Farmers and ranchers lead ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡'s Washington, DC, Farm Bill Fly-in.
Birds and Oil Palm: Cultivating Sustainable Landscapes
July 06, 2026 — A new manual from ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ and Fedepalma—the Colombian National Federation of Oil Palm Growers—shows how oil palm production and birds can coexist across Colombia's diverse landscapes.
A Cerulean Warbler perches on a lichen-covered tree.
America's Forests Depend on Private Landowners
July 01, 2026 — As Congress debates a new Farm Bill, forest conservation programs can help landowners protect habitat, improve resilience, and keep working forests intact
Greater Prairie-Chicken displaying on a lek in a grassland, with inflated orange air sacs and raised pinnae feathers.
Half of Americans Have Little to No Knowledge of Grasslands, the Country’s Largest Natural Habitat
June 17, 2026 — A new survey finds that, after learning more, 68% of respondents now consider grasslands a critical ecosystem
Old Salt Co-op Cattle Ranches Earn ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Bird-Friendly Land Certification
June 16, 2026 — J Bar L Ranch, LF Ranch, Mannix Ranch, and Sieben Live Stock Company manage their herds to help Montana's grassland birds
Birds That Depend on Grasslands
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