Sage Spirit

America's "Sagebrush Sea" is one of its most extensive natural landscapes, yet this sensitive ecosystem is unprotected and being fragmented by development - Reveals a little-known yet iconic Western landscape that supports a vast network of western wildlife species - A conservation priority area for Audubon, World Wildlife Fund, and the National Wildlife Federation Located on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains and stretching from Greater Yellowstone to Telluride, Colorado, theregion known as the Sagebrush Sea is a unique wildlife habitat with an abundance of natural resources. For this reason it is treasured by conservationists, private land owners, and energy developers alike.In the eyes of organizations such as Audubon and the World Wildlife Fund, the loss of this habitat would be catastrophic for important species like the Greater and Gunnison's Sage-grouse. Greater Sage-grouse were once found across thirteen western states, but due to energy development and conversion of land for agriculture, they now inhabit only half of their historic range.In addition, the gradual disappearance of sagebrush habitat in the West is having a profound effect on other wildlife species such as the Brewer's sparrow, sage sparrow, sage thrasher, pygmy rabbit, mule deer, pronghorn, and more. Sage Spirit features these species and the threats they face. In photos and text Dave Showalter documents the seasonal changes, animal behaviors, and migrations within the SagebrushSea. He is working with conservation leaders, government agencies, Native communities, and private landowners to tell the complete story of the ecosystem, including human use of the landscape.