Southern Plains Land Trust

11/04/2026

A perfect day for some BLUE birds! 🤩

Did you know both the Mountain Bluebird and the Western Bluebird occur at our prairie preserves?
The Mountain Bluebird is uniformly sky-blue with a pale belly, while the Western Bluebird features a dark blue head/throat paired with a distinct rusty-orange chest and a greyish belly. They are almost the same size!

11/02/2026

Spooky season is in full swing, so here's a barn owl! 🦉👻 Have you ever been startled by a barn owl flying out of a building?

Did you know that in 2024, ornithologists split the widespread Barn Owl, found on every continent except Antarctica, into three species: American Barn Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, and Western Barn Owl? American Barn Owl is restricted to the Americas, Eastern Barn Owl occurs from South Asia to Australia, and Western Barn Owl is found in Europe, Africa, and western Asia.

📷 by Chris Wemmer

10/31/2026

It’s the night of the living dead! No, not zombies—black-footed ferrets. 🧟

These nocturnal predators were declared extinct in 1979. Two years later, a colony of 18 ferrets were discovered on a ranch in Meeteesee, Wyoming. Since then, captive breeding and reintroduction programs have successfully brought North Americans only endemic ferret back from the brink of extinction.

At Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve, we will be releasing black-footed ferrets for the 6th year in a row! We believe we have a surviving population of ferrets, but they are hard to spot after they get released. Black-footed ferrets spend 99% of their time below-ground in prairie dog burrows.

Have you ever seen one?


📷 by Jill Smith

10/29/2026

Hundreds of Sandhill Cranes fly over our prairie preserves on their way down south!
They migrate across North America along three primary flyways—the Central Flyway, the Pacific Flyway, and the Eastern Flyway—moving between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas. 😎

Sandhill Cranes make loud, rattling, and trumpeting sounds because of a unique anatomical design (an elongated, coiled windpipe) and they use it for social or survival needs.

Have you heard them fly over you?

10/28/2026

Halloween is approaching and all the prairie creatures are getting their spooky on, including these adorable burrowing owls. (Thank you Karen Voepel for the picture!)

10/28/2026

10/26/2026

You were phenomenal! 🤩 Everyone that attended our Celebration of the Prairie last Saturday is directly responsible for giving prairie wildlife a true refuge! We had a very successful and fun evening, and we hope you did too 💚🦬 (More photos to come!)

10/24/2026

[SOLD OUT] See you at the Celebration tonight!🥂

We can't wait to meet up with longtime and new supporters to share our progress for the prairie. Enjoy a venue full of wildlife advocates and nature enthusiasts. Keynote speech by the authors of 'Sea of Grass' and live music by Annette and Doug Conlon. 🌾🎶

Even if you are not attending the Celebration in person, you can still join our online auction! Place your bids before 8:45PM MTN...happy bidding!
https://southernplainslandtrust.betterworld.org/auctions/celebration-prairie-2026-silent

See you tonight!

10/23/2026

Tomorrow is the big day, and after that we won't be promoting these amazing items anymore...but while we are still here: during our LIVE AUCTION tomorrow you can bid on this 'Native Garden Design' package by Wild Harvest Company!

Wild Harvest Company is a regenerative ecological landscaping company serving the Denver Front Range. The winner will receive a site visit and consultation with our design team, followed by a custom design for a native pollinator or prairie-style garden tailored to their space, soil, and goals!

Check out this deal and all other auction items here: https://southernplainslandtrust.betterworld.org/auctions/celebration-prairie-2026-silent

10/22/2026

Now here is an offer you can't refuse: a weekend long trip with our ecotourism partner Reefs to Rockies! And this time, you can get a great deal...this auction item will be offered during the LIVE auction at the Celebration of the Prairie this Saturday. 🤩

Check out our silent auction here (including all items you CAN bid on right now!): https://southernplainslandtrust.betterworld.org/auctions/celebration-prairie-2026-silent

Valued at $2375, but you can place a bid for $1000! The winner will get to choose between the Winter Raptor Tour (January 7-10, 2027) or the Spring Safari Tour (May 14-16, 2027). These weekend trips highlight Heartland Ranch Nature Preserve—43,000 acres of pristine shortgrass prairie actively rewilded to support native wildlife. 🦬🦫🦉

See you this Saturday at the Celebration! 🥂
Reefs to Rockies