National Audubon Society

Trivia time! This sandpiper is one of the largest shorebirds found in the Rockies region, but you’re more likely to see it on grasslands than on shorelines. What species is it? (Find the answer at the bottom of this email.)

Newsletter | April 2024

Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan

On March 14, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its draft plan to strengthen greater sage-grouse conservation and management on public lands. This is an important step in the BLM’s effort to update the 2015 plans, providing the stakeholders and the public an understanding of types of uses or actions that will be considered by the BLM as it works with state governments and others to meet their stated goal of creating habitat management plans that support persistent, healthy sage-grouse populations. "Working to keep the Greater Sage-Grouse off the Endangered Species list is about more than just the bird,” said Alison Holloran, our executive director. “For those of us that live in the West, we realize how important it is to take this bird’s steep decline seriously because it is a very real warning that sagebrush country is in trouble." A 90-day comment period ends on June 13. Stay tuned for opportunities to help. Learn more

Greater Sage-Grouse. Photo: Dorian Anderson/Audubon Photography Awards

ACTION ALERT: Protect Colorado’s Rivers and Wetlands

Last summer, the Supreme Court rolled back the coverage of the Clean Water Act, removing protections for as much as two-thirds of Colorado's waterways. Without them, waterfowl, wading birds, and riverside species will be impacted by the pollution, diversion, and draining of waterways and wetlands in Colorado. We have an opportunity to restore the protections with HB24-1379, which would enact a clear, strong, and comprehensive state-led waterway protection program. Urge your state representative to vote yes on HB24-1379 and protect Colorado's waterways, for birds and people.

Act now

Belted Kingfisher. Photo: Jeff Crawn/Audubon Photography Awards

Getting Green Laws

Advocating for bird-friendly legislation is one of the most impactful ways to help birds and the environment, but without an understanding of the process, it can seem daunting. Getting Green Laws is a free webinar training on how to make your voice heard by Colorado state legislators on timely environmental laws being considered right now. Discover strategies for contacting your representatives and learn about time-sensitive bills that will impact birds and their habitats in Colorado.

Register here

Bald Eagle. Photo: Keith Wallach/Audubon Photography Awards

A brown shorebird with a long, thin, curved bill. Its wings are outstretched.

Audubon Certification Touts S W Lasater Ranch in Colorado as Beacon for Grassland Birds

The S W Lasater Ranch, owned and operated by Sally Lasater, has achieved distinction as an Audubon Certified bird-friendly habitat! Situated in Elbert County on Colorado's eastern high plains, the ranch consists of predominantly native grassland habitat. Sally Lasater adopted a ranching philosophy from her parents that focuses on partnering with nature. "Supporting nature's intelligence and diversity is more important than ever as our climate changes, eastern Colorado becomes drier, and the accelerating loss of species and habitat continues here and elsewhere throughout the world," she said.

Read more

Long-billed Curlew. Photo: Richard Derevan/Audubon Photography Awards

A hand holding a white and rufous-colored hummingbird.

We’re Hiring!

We're hiring! Audubon Rockies is seeking a seasonal bird bander and outreach tech near Casper, Wyoming. This position combines community-based research and an opportunity to conduct basic conservation biology and environmental education.

Learn more and apply

Rufous Hummingbird. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies

Great Salt Lake

brown shorebird with a long, thin, curved bill wades in shallow water.

Gillmor Sanctuary Workdays

Join us for a day (or two!) this month to lend a helping hand at Great Salt Lake and enjoy some birdwatching along the way! During Gillmor Sanctuary Workdays, volunteers work alongside Audubon staff to perform hands-on, gardening-like tasks at Audubon's Gillmor Sanctuary. The sanctuary provides critical habitat for shorebirds. You can help make it a welcoming place for migrating and breeding birds this spring! Registration is limited and open for April 19 and 20. Register here

Long-billed Curlew. Photo: Ann Kramer/Audubon Photography Awards

An adult looks across the landscape through binoculars.

Get Involved at Gillmor Sanctuary

There’s more than one way to get involved at Audubon’s Gillmor Sanctuary! Whether it's signing up for an event or sharing your own ideas for helping Great Salt Lake, we welcome you to discover different opportunities on our new volunteer webpage. View it here

Bird surveyor at Great Salt Lake. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies

An adult holds a tote bag featuring artwork featuring the Gunnison Sage-Grouse.

New Art and Products Featuring Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Looking to show your love of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse? Colorado-based artist Isa Catto has featured this beloved species in her original artwork on high-quality prints, notebooks, silk scarves, tote bags and more. “I know my birding laid the foundation for being an artist,” she says. “It made me more observant, and I developed patience…I learned about color and nuance and how the animal world wields hue and camouflage.” See how this philosophy has been beautifully brought to life in her newest collection, created in collaboration with Audubon and The Birdsong Project, to celebrate the joy birds bring to our lives and bring attention to the message they have about the environmental threats we all face.

Explore the collection

Gunnison Sage-Grouse tote bag featuring artwork by Isa Catto. Photo courtesy of Isa Catto Studio

Trivia answer: The Long-billed Curlew is a large shorebird that, more often than not, is seen away from the shore. It spends summer on the grasslands of the arid West, appearing on coastal mudflats only in migration and winter, and even then is likely to be on prairies instead.

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