Risotto rice under threat from flamingoes in north-eastern Italy

[cbabe]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/12/risotto-rice-paddies-flamingoes-ferrara-italy

Risotto rice under threat from flamingoes in north-eastern Italy

Farmers are seeking ways to fend off birds who are stirring up soil in flooded paddy fields in Ferrara province

Associated Press
Sat 12 Jul 2025 00.00 EDT

…

Flamingos are relatively recent arrivals in the area, and have settled into the flooded fields that produce rice for risotto in Ferrara province, between Venice and Ravenna.

The birds aren’t targeting the rice seedlings but use their webbed feet to stir up the soil and snatch molluscs, algae or insects from the shallow water. The rice is collateral damage.
…

The birds have been there since 2000, after drought in southern Spain sent them searching for nesting grounds farther east, according to Roberto Tinarelli, the president of AsOER, the Emilia-Romagna ornithologists’ association.

Previously, the flamingos had been based in lakes in north Africa, parts of Spain and some of the Camargue region in France, Tinarelli said.

… more …

[CrispyQ]

1. "We create our own reality."

A famous phrase from the Bush 43 era. The GOP was just as arrogant back then but at least they weren't totally stupid. Bush 43 was a reader, non-fiction no less, & he added to the pandemic response structure that Clinton started. I was disappointed he didn't endorse Harris or at the very least make a public statement against Trump before the election. (Did he? Maybe I missed it.)

[Rhiannon12866]

2. According to Liz Cheney's book, W sent her a very nice thank you note for her leadership and courage

Regarding her determination to hold TFG responsible for January 6th. Given that, I'm surprised he didn't join her father and his VP, Dick Cheney, in coming out publicly in support of Kamala Harris.