Surface plowing of rice fields in winter has a strong negative impact on avian species and individual bird numbers

Abstract

The impacts of surface plowing of rice fields during winter on avian populations was surveyed at four areas of rice fields in Tonegawa Lowland, in December 2014, January 2015, and February 2015. We compared numbers of bird species and numbers of individual birds between rice stubble fields left unplowed and neighboring rice stubble fields that were plowed in. In all four areas, rice fields that were left unplowed attracted more species and more individuals than rice field that were plowed. Surface plowing of rice fields during the fallow season has a negative impact on birds.