By Nicky Ouellet | This article appeared in the Jan/Feb 2016 issue of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s “Bugle” magazine, and explores how conservation efforts can benefit big game and upland birds on their shared range.

By Brianna Randall. Stamping my feet on the frozen ground, I waited impatiently for an elusive football-sized bird to appear in the murky pre-dawn light. A spotting scope stood at the ready, my tool to count sage grouse during their annual quirky courtship dance.

In recent years, a new appreciation is taking hold in the West about the role and benefits of sustainable ranching. The article below captures the essence of why we believe that sage grouse conservation is best achieved through working cooperatively on private lands

High Country News senior editor Jodi Peterson does an excellent job of introducing readers to the conservation history of sage grouse, and the landscape-scale collaborative efforts underway to save this unique bird and its dwindling habitat.

Last week, National Geographic Magazine featured an in-depth story on sage grouse, including SGI’s conservation efforts centered around these dwindling upland birds.

Bay Nature Magazine featured an excellent story by Eric Simons on the Bi-State sage grouse, its habitat, and how it is reshaping conservation in the U.S. SGI is proud to be involved in the unprecedented partnership working to conserve the distinct population of sage grouse in California and Nevada.

This story on voluntary range improvements by Montana ranchers Patrick and Christy Lohof appears in the new Spring edition of John Deere’s The Furrow magazine. Read on to see excerpts from “To lek with grazing” by Martha Mintz.

Big Sky Journal’s Winter Edition- 2014, features a Sage Grouse Initiative Rancher Success Story. Meet Deb and Mike Delaney. (a version of this article first appeared in Beef Magazine):

The August 5th edition of Beef Magazine online features an article about the Sage Grouse Initiative and the inspiring stewardship of the Delaneys, a multi-generational ranch family from Winnett, Montana. See more photos on the SGI page.

Matador Ranch covers 60,000 acres, but the grass bank program based there has improved another 220,000 acres of wildlife habitat on neighboring ranches.