More than 165 rice growers have signed up for a new $3 million incentive program to manage their farms in a way that benefits birds. The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership, through Audubon California, PRBO Conservation Science and The Nature Conservancy, is working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service program on this project with farmers in Yuba, Sutter, Glenn, Colusa, Sacramento and Yolo counties.
A black bird sits on branches next to rice fields east of Williams on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.
Nate Chute/Appeal-Democrat