UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 794 
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey 
E. W. NELSON, Chief 
J^^^J-U 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER. 
March 23, 1920 
WATERFOWL AND THEIR FOOD PLANTS IN 
THE SANDHILL REGION OF NEBRASKA. 
By Harry C. Oberholser and W. L. McAtee, Assistant Biologists. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Geneeal Introduction 
Part I. — Waterfowl in Nebraska : 
Introduction 
Effect of Federal protective 
laws 
Future of waterfowl in the sand- 
hill region 
Natural enemies 
Hunting grounds 
Waterfowl hunting in the autumn 
of 1915 
General description of the sand- 
hill region 
10 
Part I— Continued. 
Annotated list of birds 
Game birds 
Nongame birds 
Part II. — Wild-Duck Foods of the 
Sandhill Region of Nebraska : 
Introduction 
Improvement of the wild- 
duck food supply 
Effect of alkaline conditions 
on duck-food plants 
List of plants of the sandhill 
lakes 
List of lakes visited 
Page. 
22 
22 
31 
37 
38 
38 
40 
40 
GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 
Throughout the United States the draining of marshes and shallow 
lakes has proved during recent years a menace to the preservation of 
waterfowl. Many of these lakes were formerly the homes of count- 
less wild fowl during both the breeding season and the migrations, 
but so general has the draining of lakes and marshes become that the 
remaining available resorts for these birds are becoming more and 
more limited. It is of the greatest importance, therefore, that accu- 
rate knowledge regarding the condition of the present breeding and 
wintering grounds be secured, in order that steps may be taken before 
it is too late to conserve the remaining supply of waterfowl inhabit- 
ing these areas. In view of the constant diminution in the numbers 
of our waterfowl and the consequent menace to the continuance of 
duck hunting as a sport, as well as to the very existence of the birds 
themselves, the protection of waterfowl on their breeding grounds 
becomes a matter of prime necessity. 
The Biological Survey has long recognized this need, and is 
making efforts to ascertain the exact conditions prevailing on the 
120368°— 20— Bull. 794 1 
