LOVILIA — Mike DeCook and his sons, Joshua and Wyatt DeCook, operate DeCook Ranch in Monroe County, Iowa. Over the last 30 years, they have managed 800 acres of pasture, custom-grazing 600 head of cattle. One of their goals has been to create a welcoming habitat for grassland birds. They use fire to mimic grazing and have restored prairie, oak savanna, woodlands and wetlands. Much of that land is protected through a permanent easement with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

Today, Mike and his family have protected over 2,700 acres across three counties, and their land is home to birds such as sandpipers, turkeys, trumpeter swans and songbirds. Join Mike and partners from Audubon Society as they share practical ways to improve habitat for native and migratory grassland birds.

See & Discuss

• Using rotational grazing to mimic natural fire as a way to foster grassland bird habitat
• Introducing cool-season grasses into pasture for bird habitat
• How restoring prairie, oak savanna and wetlands creates resilient grazing systems that create habitats for many species
• Establishing permanent easements for migratory and year-round grassland birds