It may seem like a stretch to think that a potluck dinnerwould be a great tool in the grassland bird conservation toolbox, but, as I, your Birdnerd, recently found out on a trip to visit and present in southwest Arizona, it may actually be a great way to connect our work across the United States.

With grassland birds in steep decline, management of habitat for an array of species from Meadowlarks and Bobolinks to sparrows and quail can be quite tricky. Connecting people to these species across the larger migratory landscape can be even trickier, but inviting people to get together over food, conversation, and a good presentation is a long-standing tradition for Audubon’s Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch in the Sonoran desert grasslands. It was a big reason Steve Prager, Director at the Ranch and good friend, invited me down to give apresentation on connecting our grasslands and birds at both locations.

My trip to the Research Ranch was a great success,and not just presenting while enjoying delicious homemade food from ranchers, local scientists, and volunteers. I got to tour the huge expanse of grasslands, canyons, and tenajas (cistern-like formations in the canyon rocks that hold water for frogs, turtles, fish and more). In doing so, Steve and I got to chat about our location’s similarities and differences, management challenges, and most importantly, ways we can continue to collaborate across the landscape to ensure bird have important and healthy habitat all along their migrations and life cycles. And, just as important, how to connect our audiences to these birds and landscapes to help us and Audubon continue to help the birds and habitats thrive.

“It was a treat to have Jason at the Research Ranch,”stated Prager, “and one that is likely to bear fruit for years to come. From sharing expertise around engagement and land management to the potential of Motus-tagged sparrows and longspurs drawing lines between our sites, we’re excited to work together to put Audubon’s two premier grassland sanctuaries to work for birds, science,and people.”