Conservation

First Season of Bid4Birds Program Completed

First Season of Bid4Birds Program Completed

Our California Ricelands Waterbird Foundation just wrapped up the inaugural season of the Bid4Birds program, which incentivizes rice growers to utilize their fields as temporary seasonal wetland habitat for migrating shorebirds and other waterbirds.

This season, the Foundation enrolled six rice growers into Bid4Birds, involving 18 rice fields in the Sacramento Valley, creating about 1,500 acres of vital shoulder season habitat.  During site visits, 45 different species of birds were observed and documented utilizing enrolled fields. 

For more information, please contact the Rice Commission’s Wildlife Programs Manager, Luke Matthews, at lmatthews@calrice.org or (916) 607-8988.

More Conservation Stories

Rice Levee Program – Enrollment Open

Rice Levee Program – Enrollment Open

California Waterfowl Association (CWA) is currently soliciting applications for the Rice Levee and Ag Corridors Program. This program is funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, through the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, which allows private landowners to submit bids for the management of their internal rice levees or road edges for upland nesting bird species (Mallard, Gadwall and Pheasant). To participate in this program, rice levees and roads must be reconstructed or mowed before January 1st or left from previous growing season. Enrolled areas must be left undisturbed until July 15th.

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