Lower planted rice acreage in California means less habitat for migratory birds along Pacific Flyway
5/15/2022 3:07:35 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Amador County, CA
Butte County, CA
Colusa County, CA
El Dorado County, CA
Glenn County, CA
Lassen County, CA
Modoc County, CA
Nevada County, CA
Placer County, CA
Plumas County, CA
Sacramento County, CA
San Joaquin County, CA
Shasta County, CA
Sierra County, CA
Siskiyou County, CA
Sutter County, CA
Tehama County, CA
Yolo County, CA
Yuba County, CA
Start Date: 5/15/2022
- End Date: 10/31/2022
The California drought means low snowpack and less water. In the Sacramento Valley, it is expected that rice acreage will be halved, leaving at least 250,000 acres fallow for lack of water.
Migratory birds stop in rice fields along the Pacific Flyway in the fall, finding critical food and habitat on their long journeys. The rice fields are very important since California has lost 95% of its historic wetland habitat since the Gold Rush. But this year, there will be far less rice and water available for hungry, fatigued birds. With the birds concentrated in a smaller area, disease can spread more easily also.
The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), May 15, 2022
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