WATERFOWL IN NEBRASKA. 21 
resting grounds for ducks and interfered considerably with river 
shooting, as most of the ducks had taken refuge back in the hills. 
A number of hunting parties were seen, however, by whom hunting 
conditions were reported to be better than usual, even though the 
northern birds had not yet come down in any considerable numbers. 
Hunting is carried on here chiefly by building blinds on the small, 
low islands and sand bars of the river, and there is practically no 
shooting from the shore. We saw a considerable number of hunting 
lodges scattered along the river all the way from Grand Island to 
Schuyler, most of them situated on the banks, but some built on 
islands that were above the reach of the water even at flood stage. 
Owing to the conditions above mentioned and to the fact that our 
visit was cursory and most of it late in the day, comparatively few 
waterfowl were seen. Even under normal conditions the ducks along 
the river are best observed early in the morning, since they retire to 
rest during the later hours of the day ; and they do not seem to be as 
active, except in the morning, as they are about the ponds and lakes. 
The following birds were noted : 
GAME BIRDS. 
Mallard. 
Gadwall. 
Green-winged teal. 
Shoveller. 
Pintail. 
Canada goose. 
LAKES OF THE NORTH PLATTE IRRIGATION PROJECT. 
The three artificial lakes of the North Platte Irrigation Project 
have been in existence a comparatively short time, but they are 
apparently the resting place for some numbers of waterfowl on their 
migration, and possibly in due time will attract a number of breeding 
birds. All have grassy shores without rushes or marshes about their 
borders, and all, particularly Winter Creek Lake, are said to be fre- 
quented by ducks in considerable numbers during fall and spring, 
but very little in summer. Some hunting used to be done here, but, 
as there is no cover about the lake margins, the ducks are not easily 
shot. These lakes were visited on October 19, and on this date very 
few water birds of any kind were seen, it apparently being an 
unfavorable day for birds on lakes exposed, as are these, to the high 
wind. Probably at other times the conditions and results would 
have been more favorable. The only water birds observed were as 
follows : 
GAME BIRDS. 
Green- winged teal. 
Redhead. 
Canvas-back. 
Lesser scaup duck. 
