California Ricelands and Waterbird Habitat
- Part I:
Overview of Ricelands and Waterbird Habitat - Part II:
Overview of Waterbird Ecology and Conservation
Goals/Needs - Part III:
Sacramento Valley Species Snapshot - Part IV:
Riceland Shorebirds - Part V:
Riceland Wading Birds - Part VI:
Riceland Marsh Birds - Part VII:
Riceland Waterfowl - Part VIII:
Cooperative Partnerships to Enhance Ricelands Habitats - Part IX:
Riceland Waterbirds Future Vision - Part X:
Technical References
Part II: Overview of Waterbird Ecology and Conservation Goals/Needs
Waterbirds, as their name says, need a wet habitat. From their webbed feet or long, splayed toes to their water-resistant feathers and their probing or strainer-like bills, waterbirds’ bodies are made for a wet habitat. Many waterbirds breed in colder northern climates then fly south and spend the winter looking for food in California’s Central Valley where the climate is milder.
Some waterbirds spend the whole year in California; others come just for the breeding season. There has been significant historical loss of waterbird habitat, and much of the habitat they need to survive today faces an uncertain future and so do the birds.
The challenges faced by waterbirds in California are many and varied. Key conservation issues and known or potential threats to waterbirds in the region include habitat loss and degradation; changing or detrimental agricultural, municipal, or industrial practices; poor or toxic water quality; increasing competition for water among municipal, agricultural, and wildlife interests; diseases; introduced predators; invasive species; human disturbance; conflicts with human interests; inter-species conflicts; and the long-term effects of climate change and sea-level rise.
With an increasing human population and the expanding reach of human activities, waterbirds face ongoing threats of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. Collectively these are the greatest threats to waterbirds in North America. Although historical losses have been staggering, the rate of decline generally has lessened and in some cases has been reversed or likely will be in the future by efforts such as the Central Valley Joint Venture and its partners.
Conservation goals for waterbirds include ensuring sustainable distributions, diversity, and abundance of waterbird species throughout their range through habitat protection, restoration, and management, education and outreach, and partnerships. Fortunately, conservation groups are partnering with family rice farmers to find common ground – practical ways to enhance wildlife habitat without compromising food production.