If you thought Sacramento Valley rice fields were just for
rice, consider that four to five million ducks, geese and swan
winter in flooded rice fields and adjoining wetlands. Paul Buttner
with the California Rice Commission says the rice fields serve as a
vital winter refuge.
(BUTTNER): "It's a very significant habitat in what is called
the pacific flyway, which is a major migration corridor for water
birds here in California. About sixty percent of everything these
birds eat comes right out of rice fields."
Don't feel too bad for duck hunters. Their season will be only
delayed a week to October 29th. And that shouldn't have much
effect on the overall harvest. Last year duck hunters bagged 1.7
million birds in California, the majority in the Sacramento
Valley.