Every year, the western sandpiper embarks on a long journey from the Alaskan shores to Peru, traveling along the Pacific Flyway. However, the Central Valley’s wetlands in California, crucial for resting and feeding, have been decimated by farming and development, leading to a decline in migrating bird populations. The innovative BirdReturns program pays rice farmers to flood their fields earlier and longer to create temporary wetlands for birds. This market-based approach has created tens of thousands of acres of habitat, benefiting both wildlife and farmers. While challenges remain, BirdReturns demonstrates a creative solution to support biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes.
https://www.hcn.org/articles/migrating-birds-find-refuge-in-pop-up-habitats/