Rice Fields and Waterbirds in the Mediterranean Region and the Middle East

Abstract

Abstract. In southern Europe, rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important agricultural crops. Relationships between rice fields and bird occurrence are well studied for some taxa while quantitative data are lacking for other, more secretive, species. Rice cultivation may be important in the conservation of some threatened birds; for example, agricultural flooded areas in northwestern Italy support 25% of the Italian population of Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) although variation in farming techniques affect the suitability of fields for birds. Agricultural practices that benefit birds include avoiding intermittent flooding or dry cultivation, maintaining stubble during winter, allowing some weed patches to persist inside fields and along ditches and conserving natural vegetation in rice field landscapes. Additionally, biological and alternative cultivation methods seem to provide better environmental conditions compared to traditional methods. To promote environmental and conservation values o...