The Economic Times

Since 2014, US farmers have been deliberately flooding their fields to create habitat for migratory birds; a decade later, 180,000 acres of farmland have become temporary wetlands serving as vital habitat for millions of birds

BirdReturns pays farmers to flood fields, creating vital temporary wetlands for migrating birds. This initiative helps birds and also replenishes groundwater supplies in California. The program uses technology to identify optimal times and locations for habitat creation. Similar managed flooding projects are being studied in the Mississippi Delta region. These efforts aim to support bird populations and improve environmental conditions.