Vo 1. 18, No. 4 
Page 2 
since the population began a steady increase from the low point of 37 cocks 
in the spring of 1 968 - As in the preceding spring, the decline this spring 
can be directly attributed to the poor nesting season of 1974. Our intensive 
nest studies at Bogota in both 1973 and 1974 documented the lowest levels of 
nest success (31.I percent and 40.7 percent, respectively) in 12 years. As 
described in preceding reports, 3 years of abnormal weather (mostly too wet) 
and its detrimental effects on nest cover, the reduced food base of predators, 
and a high rate of predation on nests (and probably broods, also) were the 
main interrelated factors to which the poor hatches of 1973 and 1974 were 
attributable. 
Despite the population decline, continued improvement was noted on the 
80-acre Jamerson McCormack Sanctuary on the south edge of the study area this 
spring. Nine cocks boomed, with up to 11 hens, on and near the McCormack 
80 this spring, compared with 4 cocks in 1974, 2 cocks in l973, and 1 cock 
(the first since acquisition in 1 965 ) in 1972. All booming grounds were 
located either on or within about 100 yards of the sanctuaries at Bogota. 
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