FEBRUARY 2023 PROGRAM

FEBRUARY PROGRAM AT MONTANA WILD

Conservation Ranching in Montana
Presenters: Amy Seaman, Christian Meny, Peter Dudley
Time and Location:  February 14, Montana Wild, 3668 Broadwater, 7 PM
→ Come in person or view remotely using Zoom. Click HERE for the Zoom meeting

The purpose of Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) is to stabilize declining grassland bird population in partnership with ranchers – on whose land 95 percent of grassland birds live. Amy Seaman, Christian Meny and Peter Dudley will discuss how Montana Audubon will enable ranchland habitat projects to improve grassland bird habitat for species like the Chestnut-collared Longspur, Lark Bunting and Greater Sage-Grouse. Grassland birds have suffered an unparallel decline over the past half century, stemming from widespread development on North America’s grasslands. ACR offers incentives to ranchers for good grassland stewardship.

Amy Seaman is Director of Policy and Science at Montana Audubon (MA). She joined MA in 2013 to work on citizen science and bird conservation. Amy earned her M.S. in Biology from the University of Nevada. Her avian research has taken her across our state’s priority habitats including the Madison and Missouri Rivers, major valleys, Charles M. Russell NWR, Glacier National Park, and native grasslands. Amy has been leading MA public policy and lobbying work since 2015.

Christian Meny is Director of MA Conservation Ranching. In Montana he contributed to the State Management Plan for Common Loons. His variety of bird-related experiences include 10 years managing the Montana Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions program, contributing to the World Wildlife Fund Sustainable Ranching Initiative, and involvement with Montana’s MPG Ranch.

Peter Dudley, MA Legislative & Conservation Ranching Assistant, graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. in Anthropology and an Environmental Studies minor. Last year he accepted a Conservation Fellowship with Montana Conservation Corps working with a Trail Crew in Hungry Horse, MT.  With ACR Peter looks forward to applying his interests in native plants, resource conservation, and agroecology.