Going Beneath Great Grassland Bird Habitat

For World Soil Day, learn why soil health plays an important role in the lives of grassland birds. Trouble viewing this e-mail? Try our [web version](. [National Audubon Society]( [Pulling soil samples at Kiowa Creek Ranch, one of the initial ranches in Audubon's soil monitoring project.]( [Going Beneath Great Grassland Bird Habitat]( A Bobolink clinging to Golden Alexander. An Eastern Meadowlark melodious on a fencepost. A Ferruginous Hawk soaring high above. [These are the birdy, vital signs of high-quality grassland habitat.]( This sunny side captures our attention, but grassland habitat doesn’t just happen. It has to be created or restored, then regularly managed and nourished. To some, this “management”—the grazing of bison and cattle and trampling by their hooves—is an odd prescription, but it’s exactly what the ecosystem doctor ordered. This is where the dark side begins, equally captivating: This grazing and trampling contributes to the return of organic material to the soil. And that’s not all. This [World Soil Day]( Audubon Conservation Ranching celebrates the habitat heroes beneath our work boots, where all grasslands begin—healthy soils teeming with bacteria, fungi, and other microbes. We’ll also introduce you to our new soil monitoring project on 100 Audubon Certified bird-friendly ranches to help us better understand the impact and potential of bird-friendly land practices. [Let's Dig In]( [Audubon Conservation Ranching]( is the National Audubon Society’s flagship grassland habitat program. Look for products [featuring the Audubon Certified bird-friendly seal]( and know your purchase supports land managed for birds and biodiversity. Pulling soil samples at Kiowa Creek Ranch, one of the initial ranches in Audubon's soil monitoring project. Photo: Cidney Handy/Audubon CONNECT WITH US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [DONATE]( [ADVOCATE]( [GET TEXT UPDATES]( National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 USA [(844) 428-3826](#) | [audubon.org]( © 2023 National Audubon Society, Inc. [Update your email address or unsubscribe](