Editor's Note: This is the first of three short profiles explaining how the California drought is negatively impacting birds in the area. The dry, hot summer over in California means bad news for the state's suburbs—the State Water Quality Control Board recently enacted $500 fines for those still watering their lawns. But it's even worse for many water-dwelling bird species. Water levels in local bodies of water have been going down, limiting the birds' habitat, breeding grounds, and food sources. This has resulted in noticeable effects to resident and migratory waterfowl populations, especially the Mallard.With the males' bright green head feathers and gray flanks, Mallards may be the most familiar duck species in North America. "About 70 percent of the Mallards that winter here are here all year-round," says Greg Yarris from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As the dominant resident throughout the year, they are the waterfowl species that has been most noticeably affected by the...