Ranchers raising birds to boost biodiversity

Apr 03, 2023

If you step outside into the morning sun but don't hear birds singing, you may have a problem.

"Birds are a leading indicator of what's happening in your ecosystem," says Chad Lemke, a Texas rancher who took over his family's operation in the early 2000s with his wife, Rhona. Parts of the ranch, two hours west of Austin, have been in Lemke's family since the late 1800s. Today, the family raises cattle, sheep, and goats for breeding stock and grass-finished meat.

Lemke has always enjoyed watching quail and turkey trot across the roll-ing landscape. He says his holistic "land first, animals close second" management approach set him up to consider wildlife needs. He intentionally excludes livestock from grazing areas where deer raise fawns or ground-nesting birds prepare to brood. However, he had not considered tracking bird populations until 2018, after connect-ing with the National Audubon Society's Conservation Ranching Initiative.

Audubon's Conservation Ranching Initiative was conceived about a decade ago in Missouri by conservationists concerned about grassland bird populations. Grassland birds, which include northern bobwhite quail and meadowlarks, have declined by more than 50% in the past 50 years, more than any other bird group, says Chris Wilson, Conservation Ranching Initiative director.

The program aims to incentivize good grassland habitat management on private lands, where most grassland birds dwell, with a market-based approach. Participating ranchers work toward Audubon's "bird-friendly land" certification, verified by the third-party Food Alliance. The status comes with a seal that can be used to market meat and live animals at a premium.

Becoming certified starts with a conversation between the rancher and an Audubon rangeland or grassland ecologist. The ecologist visits the ranch and shares details about the program and protocols, which promote birds and biodiversity more broadly. The protocols were developed with guidance from ranchers, including Lemke, during pi-lot projects in Missouri, the Dakotas, Texas, and the Rockies.

"We recognize producers need to raise animals and be successful economically," Wilson says. "We also want them to be able to balance the need for wildlife and enhance bird habitat in the process."

The program calls for grazing practices that leave grasses and forbs at varying heights to create habitat for grass-land birds, insects (including pollinators such as bees and butterflies), and other wild-life. It also restricts fertilizers and pesticides, instead promoting practices that build soil health and fertility. Each region has its own specific species target list and habitat protocols.

"I laughed and said, ‘What the hell is a bird es-cape route?’ " Lemke recalls. "We had a fun time talking about that, but basically it's as simple as a panel folded over to act as a ladder so that if a bird drops into the water and gets saturated, it gives it something to climb up." Lemke has been impressed with Audubon's producer-centric approach, particularly, he says, since, "in the past, there has been an adversarial relationship between a lot of people on the land and the Audubon organization.

"They are now working with producers, and they have this program that is working toward showing there is a symbiotic relationship between well-managed domestic animals and wildlife," Lemke says. "It's another solid way to help create data that shows what we’re doing is working. We’re helping the environment, not hurting it."

The initiative has certified more than 100 bird-friendly ranches covering 3.5 million acres in 15 states. Lemke, who earned certification in 2019, sees multiple benefits to the program.

1. Bird populations help gauge land health. Birds are one of the easiest ways to see bio-diversity on the land. The more biodiverse your land is (in plants, insects, and other animals), the more birds you’re likely to see. Biodiversity is key to soil health, and, while Wilson cautions against making direct links between soil health and birds, Audubon will begin doing meter-deep soil sampling on 100 ranches in 2023 to look at how bird-friendly practices affect soil health and carbon.

2. Bird numbers can confirm or redirect management decisions. For ranchers starting to make land improvements, increased bird populations can be a sign that their regenerative efforts are working. For those who have already captured significant improvement, bird surveys can confirm management decisions or, if certain birds no longer appear, raise early warning signs of imbalance.

3. Audubon provides detailed reports and technical assistance. Ranchers receive bird survey reports and have access to work-shops on making the land more productive, better at holding water, and compatible with wildlife conservation. Audubon can also help ranchers find funding opportunities to help them implement projects that increase biodiversity.

4. The certification creates potential economic value. While the market development component of Audubon's initiative is in its infancy, beef from Audubon-certified bird-friendly lands can be found in at least 250 retail stores (local and online) and butcher shops (see the list at audubon.org/conservation/where-to-buy-conservation- ranching-products). In 2022, Audubon completed a partnership with Panorama Meats, which sells beef in 23 states, and is pursuing additional national partnerships.

"There's definite growing interest from companies and brands in consumer markets that recognize an increasing need from conscious beef consumers that they want to know beef is raised in a way that is doing good things for the land," Wilson says.

Lemke sees the certification as complementary to another enterprise he's considering: ecotourism. Bird-watching is popular along the Gulf Coast, so Lemke is interested in creating a place where these hobbyists can connect to the land and beef production.

5. Consumers are assured that beef is good for the environment. Lemke believes one of the greatest outcomes from the initiative will be the "mutually beneficial" relationship between Audubon and beef producers that, for beef producers, will help communicate to a disconnected public how well-managed beef animals can be a tool for improving the ecosystem.

"Do your due diligence," Lemke says. "Learn about the program, but I think long-term, bird-friendly beef will benefit producers."

Audubon's Conservation Ranching Initiative works with beef (and bison) producers mostly west of the Mississippi River, with Wisconsin as an exception. Learn more at audubon.org/ conservation/ranching. Chris Wilson, director of the initiative, says improving bird habitat starts by boosting biodiversity, especially with native seed plantings. You can also: