6 BULLETIN 794, V. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



lation, and many of the best lakes lie close to human habitations and 

 are thus easily accessible, which probably will considerably decrease 

 their value as breeding grounds for waterfowl. This is partially sub- 

 stantiated by the fact that in this place comparatively little increase 

 has been apparent in the number of birds since the Federal protec- 

 tive laws went into effect ; while in the more remote regions, such as 

 the lakes of eastern Cherry County, the good results from the law 

 have been very marked. Disappearance of marsh vegetation, fol- 

 lowing the draining of lakes by ditching for the purpose of convert- 

 ing them into hay meadows, also operates to greater or less extent 

 against the protection of waterfowl. A number of lakes have, in this 

 way, been made undesirable for water birds, and these, too, lakes 

 which were particularly attractive to them. In a few cases, how- 

 ever, the water drawn off has formed other lakes which have in a 

 measure made up for the loss. Draining has been practiced most 

 among the lakes at the headwaters of the North Loup Eiver and in 

 Morrill and Garden Counties, but there is apparently no danger 

 that this will be carried to a much greater extent than at present, nor 

 is it likely to be extended to the lakes of eastern Cherry County, the 

 Cody Lakes, or the lakes of Brown County. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



In the Nebraska sandhill region the waterfowl and game birds 

 have relatively few natural enemies. Hawks are not numerous, and 

 those of most frequent occurrence, such as the marsh hawk, the fer- 

 ruginous rough-legged hawk, and the Krider red-tailed hawk, do little 

 damage to birds. The prairie falcon and the Cooper hawk, which 

 are well-known enemies of birds, are fortunately not common enough 

 in this region to make their presence of serious import. Perhaps 

 the most destructive enemies are the skunk and the coyote, which 

 often destroy eggs in the nest, occasionally kill the adult birds, and 

 not infrequently catch young ducks and other waterfowl. Another 

 drawback to breeding is the frequent hail storms, which kill ducks 

 and other birds on their nests, break the eggs, and destroy young 

 birds. 



Man, of course, is the birds' greatest enemy, and were he but 

 absent from the sandhill region, there would be no problem of game 

 protection. It is almost unnecessary to state, however, that if the 

 pursuit of game were to be continued as recklessly and persistently 

 at all times of the year as before the passage of Federal laws pro- 

 tecting migratory birds, the time would not be distant when there 

 would be no birds to shoot ; hence, if the game is to be preserved for 

 the future sportsman, as well as for the naturalist, there must be 

 some effective restrictions. With such advantages as the sandhill 



