artificial and regulated water impoundments such as rice 
fields, grasslands, and pastures. Rice-field preparation 
was behind schedule, mainly due to the all-time record of 
217,000 ha planted this year in the Central Valley. 
Farm ponds, stock tanks, and other small wetland areas 
scattered over the entire State and not covered by this sur- 
vey were full and attracted ducks this season. 
Breeding Population Indices (Tables B-12 through B-18) 
The breeding ground survey for 1979 was conducted in 
essentially the same manner as in previous years consisting 
of complete aerial coverage of the “Great Basin” section in 
northeastern California and aerial transects in the Sacra- 
mento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Bay Area. On the 
Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, ground counts 
were made by refuge personnel and supplemented with 
aerial survey work. 
The survey flights in the Central Valley were conducted 
on 16 and 17 May, whereas northeastern California was 
flown from 4 through 8 June. Resulting breeding pair in- 
dices indicate an increase in dabblers (+ 13%), divers 
(+ 12%), and total ducks (+ 12%) compared with 1978. 
However, Canada geese and coots decreased 7% and 
11%, respectively, over the same period. 
Colorado 
Data supplied by Michael R. Szymezak 
Colorado Division of Wildlife 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Water conditions for duck production were good in all 
areas of the State except the San Luis Valley where the 
amount of surface water continued to decline. Water in 
North Park was above average with many basins filled for 
the first time since 1975, Conditions in the South Platte 
and Cache la Poudre valleys were best in the western por- 
tions of the valleys adjacent to the foothills, and declined 
eastward. Some artificial marshes in Brown’s Park were 
not optimum for duck production because of a combina- 
tion of a dry winter and mechanical problems with 
pumps. 
Conditions for Canada goose production were variable 
throughout the State. In northwest and west-central Colo- 
rado, most nests hatched before the high water period, al- 
though some flooding was noted, primarily on the Yampa 
River. In the San Luis Valley, conditions were near nor- 
mal, and water on the Monte Vista National Wildlife 
Refuge had improved. In north-central Colorado, reser- 
voirs which had reached a low level in 1977 were near 
capacity, producing excellent conditions for nesting geese, 
Breeding Population and Production (Tables B-19 through 
B-25) 
The total number of duck breeding pairs was down 
13 
29% from 1978 levels and 13% below the long-term 
mean. A decline in the breeding population in the San 
Luis Valley, which had been expected for a number of 
vears, finally materialized in the 1979 estimate, The large 
numerical increase in North Park over 1978 levels was not 
sufficient to offset declines in other areas. The mallard 
population increased slightly in terms of percent composi- 
tion but numerically reached a record low level. 
Information on the post-nesting season population of 
Canada geese in northwest Colorado is incomplete; how- 
ever, total estimated numbers were above 1978 levels and 
the 1967-78 mean in most areas. Production was below 
1978 levels and was expected to be near the 1967-78 mean 
because of measured or anticipated declines along the 
Green River. 
The aerial breeding pair survey of Canada geese in west 
central Colorado was conducted on 2 and 4 May 1979, 
compared with 20 April in 1978 and with 9 May in 1977, 
The trend in this segment of the nesting population was 
definitely upward; however, direct year-to-year compari- 
sons were not possible because annual survey dates had not 
been standardized. 
The estimated number of productive breeding pairs of 
Canada geese in the San Luis Valley was very near the 
1977 level. 
Results of the 1979 Canada goose production survey in 
north-central Colorado indicated that the number of adult 
geese observed in the trend areas was 3% below 1978 and 
8% below the 1969-78 mean. However, gosling produc- 
tion increased 45% over 1978 and was 18% above the 
1969-78 mean. 
Nebraska 
Data supplied by John T. Sweet 
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Spring temperatures were unseasonably low throughout 
most of May. Rainfall kept the eastern and western por- 
tions of the State in relatively good condition. Although 
part of the north-central area was dry, most of it, along 
with the western Sandhills, was snow-covered on 11 May 
from a late spring storm. The storm contributed to a water 
index in the Sandhills which was 152% above that of 
1978. Despite this increase, total water areas for the State 
were below 1978, 
Breeding Populations (Tables B-26 and B-27) 
The 1979 breeding population index for the Sandhills 
production area was 143,789 birds, an increase of 14% 
over 1978. Of the 11 identified species, significant changes 
from 1978 were noted: mallard (+ 16%), blue-winged 
teal (+7%), gadwall (+ 35%), redhead (+ 101%), can- 
vasback (+ 304%), and scaup (-— 72%). 
In the Rainwater Basin production area, the breeding 
