Latest news with #ComacchioValleys
The Guardian
12-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Risotto rice under threat from flamingoes in north-eastern Italy
An unusual bird is ravaging crops and infuriating farmers in north-eastern Italy: the flamingo. 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. Now farmers have started patrolling day and night in an effort to scare the birds away from their rice crops. The farmers honk truck horns, bang barrels and even fire small gas cannon that make thunderous booms. However, the noise mostly just sends the flamingoes flying to another nearby paddy to trample it underfoot. Enrico Fabbri, a local grower, said he was discouraged after seeing production losses of as much as 90% in some of his planted areas. 'These are new things that have never happened before. You invest so much time and care into preparing everything,' Fabbri, 63, said beside one of his paddies on the outskirts of Jolanda di Savoia. 'Then, just as the crop begins to grow, it's like having a newborn child taken away. That's what it feels like.' The flamingos appear to have come from former nesting grounds in the nearby Comacchio valleys, in a reserve on the coast just south of where the Po River, Italy's longest, flows into the Adriatic Sea. 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. There has been no research yet into why these flamingos started seeking food farther inland, where farmers flood their fields for a few weeks from late spring to early summer as a means of germinating newly planted rice seeds. Until the paddies are drained, the flamingos are a threat. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 'Obviously, we are looking for answers from those who have to deal with the problem. From an environmental point of view, all this is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that rice cultivation is among the most expensive, extensive crops,' said Massimo Piva, 57, a rice grower and vice-president of the local farmers' confederation. 'They are beautiful animals, it's their way of moving and behaving, but the problem is trying to limit their presence as much as possible.' Tinarelli suggested several humane and effective solutions to fend off the flamingos, such as surrounding paddies with tall trees or hedges and, even better, reducing the water levels of freshly planted paddies to 2-4in (5 -10cm), from 12in (30cm). 'This is sufficient for the rice to grow, but decidedly less attractive to flamingos, which must splash around in the water,' he said.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
A new pest threatens Italy's risotto dish: the flamingo
Farmers in northeastern Italy are grappling with an unexpected and colourful adversary: flamingos. The recent arrivals are wreaking havoc on rice fields in Ferrara province, a key area for risotto rice production. They do not consume the seedlings, but use their webbed feet to churn up the soil, dislodging mollusks, algae, and insects from the shallow waters. The rice crop is collateral damage. Local growers patrol the fields day and night, blaring truck horns, banging barrels, and deploying small gas cannons that emit thunderous booms. But these desperate efforts largely prove futile, merely sending the flocks to another nearby paddy to continue their destructive foraging. Enrico Fabbri, a local grower, has reported production losses of as much as 90 per cent in some of his planted areas. 'These are new things that have never happened before. You invest so much time and care into preparing everything," Mr Fabbri, 63, said beside one of his paddies on the outskirts of Jolanda di Savoia. "Then, just as the crop begins to grow, it's like having a newborn child taken away. That's what it feels like." The flamingos appear to have come from their prior nesting grounds in the nearby Comacchio Valleys within a reserve on the coast, just south of where the Po River – Italy's longest – flows into the Adriatic Sea. The birds have been there since 2000, after drought in southern Spain sent them searching for nesting grounds further east, said Roberto Tinarelli, an ornithologist and president of the Emilia-Romagna Ornithologists Association. Previously, they had been confined to lakes in North Africa, parts of Spain and a bit of France's Camargue region, Mr Tinarelli said. There have not yet been any studies to determine why these flamingos started seeking food further inland, where farmers flood their fields from late spring to early summer as a means of germinating newly planted rice seeds. Until the paddies are drained after a few weeks, the flamingos are a threat. 'Obviously, we are looking for answers from those who have to deal with the problem. From an environmental point of view, all this is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that rice cultivation is among the most expensive, extensive crops," said Massimo Piva, a 57-year-old rice grower and vice-president of the local farmers' confederation. 'They are beautiful animals, it's their way of moving and behaving, but the problem is trying to limit their presence as much as possible." Mr Tinarelli suggested several solutions to fend off flamingos that are more humane and effective than the horns and gas cannons. He said paddies could be surrounded with tall trees or hedges, and water levels of freshly planted paddies could be reduced to between 2 and 4 inches (5 and 10 centimetres), instead of 12 inches (30 centimetres). 'This is sufficient for the rice to grow, but decidedly less attractive to flamingos, which must splash around in the water,' he said.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Flamingos are stirring up trouble and ravaging rice for risotto in Italy's northeast
An unusual pest is ravaging crops and irking farmers in northeastern Italy: the flamingo. Flocks of these relatively recent immigrants have set their hungry sights on the flooded fields that produce rice for risotto in Ferrara province, between Venice and Ravenna. The long-legged birds aren't interested in the seedlings; rather, flamingos use their webbed feet to stir up the soil and snatch mollusks, algae or insects from the shallow water. Rice is collateral damage. Farmers have started patroling day and night in a bid to scare the birds away. They honk their trucks' horns, bang barrels and even fire small gas cannons that make thunderous booms. Mostly, the noise just sends them flying to another nearby rice paddy to be trampled underfoot. Enrico Fabbri, a local grower, said he is discouraged after seeing production losses of as much as 90% in some of his planted areas. 'These are new things that have never happened before. You invest so much time and care into preparing everything," Fabbri, 63, said beside one of his paddies on the outskirts of Jolanda di Savoia. "Then, just as the crop begins to grow, it's like having a newborn child taken away. That's what it feels like." The flamingos appear to have come from their prior nesting grounds in the nearby Comacchio Valleys within a reserve on the coast, just south of where the Po River, Italy's longest, flows into the Adriatic Sea. The birds have been there since 2000, after drought in southern Spain sent them searching for nesting grounds further east, according to Roberto Tinarelli, ornithologist and president of the Emilia-Romagna Ornithologists Association. Previously, they had been confined to lakes in North Africa, parts of Spain and a bit of France's Camargue region, Tinarelli, 61, said beside a pond in Bentivolgio, a town near Bologna. There have been no studies yet to determine why these flamingos started seeking food further inland, where farmers flood their fields from late spring to early summer as a means of germinating newly planted rice seeds. Until the paddies are drained after a few weeks, the flamingos are a threat. 'Obviously, we are looking for answers from those who have to deal with the problem. From an environmental point of view, all this is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that rice cultivation is among the most expensive, extensive crops," said Massimo Piva, a 57-year-old rice grower and vice-president of the local farmers' confederation. 'They are beautiful animals, it's their way of moving and behaving, but the problem is trying to limit their presence as much as possible," Piva said. Tinarelli, the orinthologist, suggested several solutions to fend off flamingos that are more humane and effective than the clamorous efforts currently employed: surrounding paddies with tall trees or hedges and, even better, reducing water levels of freshly planted paddies to between 2 and 4 inches (5 and 10 centimeters), instead of 12 inches (30 centimeters). 'This is sufficient for the rice to grow, but decidedly less attractive to flamingos, which must splash around in the water,' he said.
Associated Press
10-07-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Flamingos are stirring up trouble and ravaging rice for risotto in Italy's northeast
JOLANDA DI SAVOIA, Italy (AP) — An unusual pest is ravaging crops and irking farmers in northeastern Italy: the flamingo. Flocks of these relatively recent immigrants have set their hungry sights on the flooded fields that produce rice for risotto in Ferrara province, between Venice and Ravenna. The long-legged birds aren't interested in the seedlings; rather, flamingos use their webbed feet to stir up the soil and snatch mollusks, algae or insects from the shallow water. Rice is collateral damage. Farmers have started patroling day and night in a bid to scare the birds away. They honk their trucks' horns, bang barrels and even fire small gas cannons that make thunderous booms. Mostly, the noise just sends them flying to another nearby rice paddy to be trampled underfoot. Enrico Fabbri, a local grower, said he is discouraged after seeing production losses of as much as 90% in some of his planted areas. 'These are new things that have never happened before. You invest so much time and care into preparing everything,' Fabbri, 63, said beside one of his paddies on the outskirts of Jolanda di Savoia. 'Then, just as the crop begins to grow, it's like having a newborn child taken away. That's what it feels like.' The flamingos appear to have come from their prior nesting grounds in the nearby Comacchio Valleys within a reserve on the coast, just south of where the Po River, Italy's longest, flows into the Adriatic Sea. The birds have been there since 2000, after drought in southern Spain sent them searching for nesting grounds further east, according to Roberto Tinarelli, ornithologist and president of the Emilia-Romagna Ornithologists Association. Previously, they had been confined to lakes in North Africa, parts of Spain and a bit of France's Camargue region, Tinarelli, 61, said beside a pond in Bentivolgio, a town near Bologna. There have been no studies yet to determine why these flamingos started seeking food further inland, where farmers flood their fields from late spring to early summer as a means of germinating newly planted rice seeds. Until the paddies are drained after a few weeks, the flamingos are a threat. 'Obviously, we are looking for answers from those who have to deal with the problem. From an environmental point of view, all this is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that rice cultivation is among the most expensive, extensive crops,' said Massimo Piva, a 57-year-old rice grower and vice-president of the local farmers' confederation. 'They are beautiful animals, it's their way of moving and behaving, but the problem is trying to limit their presence as much as possible,' Piva said. Tinarelli, the orinthologist, suggested several solutions to fend off flamingos that are more humane and effective than the clamorous efforts currently employed: surrounding paddies with tall trees or hedges and, even better, reducing water levels of freshly planted paddies to between 2 and 4 inches (5 and 10 centimeters), instead of 12 inches (30 centimeters). 'This is sufficient for the rice to grow, but decidedly less attractive to flamingos, which must splash around in the water,' he said.
