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The Western Drought Is a Crisis for Migrating Birds, Too

For years, California rice farmers have aided bird migration by flooding their fields in the off season. But this year, they barely have enough water to grow their crops.

Killdeer, one of many shorebird species that migrate through the Sacramento Valley, stop for a drink in a flooded rice field.

Killdeer, one of many shorebird species that migrate through the Sacramento Valley, stop for a drink in a flooded rice field.

Photo courtesy of Jim Morris/California Rice Commission

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Empty wells. Salmon die-offs. Water thieves. The uncontrollable flames of monster wildfire. 

In California, one of the worst droughts on record has touched off a kaleidoscopic range of emergencies, amplifying age-old resource conflicts as leaders call for conservation by cities, curtailments to farmers and coordination across the board.