Lipan, Texas (February 1, 2024) The Nationwide Audubon Society proudly broadcasts Cougar Hole Ranch, positioned close to Lipan in Hood and Parker Counties, Texas, as the newest addition to its rising listing of bird-friendly habitats licensed by the Audubon Conservation Ranching program. Owned by the Laura and Greg Fowl household and managed by Jon and Ben Taggart for the Burgundy Pasture Beef model, merchandise originating from this ranch are actually eligible to hold the Audubon Licensed bird-friendly seal, a label that lets customers know merchandise are grazed on ranches particularly managed for birds and biodiversity.
The certification is earned by the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, Audubon’s flagship grassland habitat effort. Representing a collaborative effort between ranchers and Audubon to fight the decline of grassland fowl populations – probably the most quickly declining fowl species group – Cougar Hole Ranch joins the ranks of over 100 licensed ranches, masking practically 3 million acres nationwide. With the addition of Cougar Hole Ranch, 14 licensed ranch habitats totaling over 88,000 bird-friendly acres are contributing to the conservation trigger in Texas.
The Audubon Certification distinguishes wildlife-focused grassland administration, notably by rotational cattle grazing practices that create a various mosaic of habitats for grassland birds. Underneath the imaginative and prescient of Greg Fowl and the land management of Jon and Ben Taggart, whose ranching operation close to Grandview, Texas, can be an Audubon Licensed bird-friendly habitat, Cougar Hole Ranch is present process a habitat transformation.
Fowl says what was an overgrazed property with invasive plant species and an excessive amount of brush is being introduced again to its pure grassland state. One which, in line with Jon Taggart, not solely aligns with the conservation targets of the Audubon program but additionally leads to enhanced forage high quality for his herd.
Utilizing a way of high-intensity, short-duration grazing, the plant group at Cougar Hole Ranch is diversifying. Thomas Schroeder, Partnerships Supervisor for Audubon Conservation Ranching, is complimentary of the habitat partnership between the Birds and Taggarts that Audubon is becoming a member of. “It is a actually particular place. The good work that Jon, Ben, and Greg have been doing for habitat, birds, and biodiversity right here is outstanding,” he mentioned. Schroeder says Northern Bobwhites (bobwhite quail), Dickcissels, and Meadowlarks at Cougar Hole Ranch would be the birdy indicators because the native grasses and flowers proceed to take root.
For extra details about Audubon Conservation Ranching in Texas, contact Anita Hoskins, Senior Personal Lands Coordinator, at anita.hoskins@audubon.org.
For info in different states, please contact ConservationRanching@Audubon.org.
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About Audubon Conservation Ranching
A wildlife habitat initiative of the National Audubon Society with a novel market connection, Audubon Conservation Ranching goals to stabilize declining grassland fowl populations in partnership with ranchers – on whose land 95 % of grassland birds dwell. Audubon Conservation Ranching’s enrollment contains over 100 ranches and practically 3 million acres which have earned standing as Audubon Licensed bird-friendly land. Incentivizing this habitat work for birds and biodiversity are customers with an urge for food for conservation, who help it with the acquisition of merchandise grazed on these lands. Buyers see a particular package deal designation – the Audubon Licensed bird-friendly seal – that units these merchandise aside. For extra info, go to www.audubon.org/ranching.
