Part I.— WATERFOWL IN NEBRASKA. 



By Haeey C. Obebholser. Assistant Biologist. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The principal waterfowl breeding ground in Nebraska is the sand- 

 hill region with its numerous lakes. This area has long been famous 

 as a resort for water birds when migrating; consequently, it has 

 offered great inducements as a hunting ground and has attracted 

 thousands of hunters from all parts of the country, some coming 

 from points as far distant as New York and San Francisco. This 

 region not only harbors myriads of ducks during spring and autumn, 

 but is one of the few extensive waterfowl breeding grounds remain- 

 ing in the United States. In order to determine the numbers and 

 distribution of the waterfowl of Nebraska, the various breeding 

 grounds in Brown, Cherry, Garden, and Morrill Counties were visited 

 by the writer in June, 1915. Practically all the lakes in central and 

 eastern Cherry County were examined, great assistance being ren- 

 dered by Mr. U. G. Welker, then postmaster at Dewey Lake, him- 

 self an experienced hunter ; also a large number of the lakes in Gar- 

 den and Morrill Counties were visited, and careful observations were 

 made of the water birds living on them. At the Orlando Ranch, in 

 the former county, work was greatly facilitated by the open-handed 

 hospitality of Col. S. Avery, its owner. During October of the 

 same year many of the lakes were revisited ; a trip was made to the 

 lakes of the North Platte Irrigation Project, near Scotts Bluff; and 

 a careful examination was made of a considerable section of the 

 Platte River between Grand Island and Silver Creek. Much valu- 

 able information concerning the sandhill region and its birds was 

 furnished by Dr. Robert H. Wolcott and Prof. Myron H. Swenk, of 

 the University of Nebraska, who also afforded every possible facility 

 for the prosecution of these investigations. 



EFFECT OF FEDERAL PROTECTIVE LAWS. 



It is the universal testimony of residents and of sportsmen that 

 the myriads of ducks which in former times frequented the sand- 

 hill region, particularly during spring and fall, have been greatly 

 reduced. This diminution is due in part to spring shooting, but also 

 to a number of other causes, including the slaughter of ducks in 



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