Bird species rose from 29 to 37 after Colorado couple restored family ranch

When Lance and Lisa Wheeler bought land in Colorado to build a family ranch, their ambition was to raise healthy food and create a sustainable way of farming. More than a decade later, their land is also becoming a refuge for grassland birds. According to Audubon Rockies, which published the couple’s story on August 31, 2026, bird species recorded at their Rafter W Ranch increased from 29 in 2019 to 37 in 2025, while grassland-bird detections doubled from 178 to 356. The numbers offer a striking glimpse of what can happen when livestock production and conservation are managed together.From a childhood cowboy dream to a real ranchWheeler grew up in a Los Angeles suburb but dreamed of becoming a cowboy. His family had raised cattle in Texas for generations, although his own idea of ranching initially came more from watching Bonanza than experiencing life on a working ranch.