Across the United States, rice farmers are discovering that welcoming migrating birds onto their land after harvest isn't just good for wildlife — it's good for business too. By flooding their fields during winter months, farmers like Mike Wagner in Mississippi are creating crucial wetland habitat for thousands of ducks, geese, and shorebirds traveling the Mississippi Flyway. The results are remarkable: bird droppings provide natural fertilizer that can reduce synthetic nitrogen use by more than 13%, while the birds help decompose organic matter and improve soil health. As they wade through water-logged fields, the birds also help reduce water pollution by keeping sediment and nutrients on the land instead of washing downstream into rivers and the Gulf. It's a beautiful example of how working with nature can benefit everyone. The 3 million acres of rice farms across the U.S. now provide an estimated third of the food energy that migrating waterfowl eat each winter across North America. And in return, the farmers get healthier fields, lower costs, and the daily spectacle of thousands of birds arriving each season — from Canada geese to bright pink roseate spoonbills.
Rice Farmers and Migrating Birds Form Beautiful Partnership
