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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY IN NEBRASKA, 1950 
John H. Wampole 
Introduction 
In setting up survey routes in 1948 it was recognized that many uncontrolled 
factors could affect the usefulness of any data obtained by whatever methods were used. 
Therefore, the purposes of the survey in Nebraska have for three seasons been (1) to 
evaluate the seasonal and year by year trends in duck population on a qualitative rather 
than a quantitative basis, and (2) to test the methods used, By qualitative rather than 
quantitative is meant that, although the data shown in the tables is considered to be the 
best that could be obtained under the existing conditions, there is no claim for statistical 
accuracy and no attempt is made to estimate or calculate total production. The data is 
to be considered as indicative of a trend only. 
Although it is known that ducks are produced in other areas of the State, survey 
activities were limited to the Sandhills which include roughly two hundred square miles 
of Nebraska from the State boundary on the north to the Platte River on the south, and 
from Alliance on the west to Stuart on the east. The Sandhills are believed to contain 
the most productive of the water areas of the State. Both ground and aerial routes were 
set up. 
Methods Used and Area Covered 
Ground Coverage 
In 1948 three routes (A, B, and D) totaling 39 square miles were established 
in the western Sandhills, and Route C (12 square miles) in the eastern Sandhills, These 
routes with exceptions noted later in the report were run by Game Commission personnel 
(Hytrek and Wampole) and U. S. Game Agent, Paul S. Smith during the 1948, 1949, and 
1950 seasons. In 1949 another route of 3 1/4 square miles was set up by J. H. Sather, 
Nebraska Game Commission Biologist, and run incidental to his muskrat investigations 
in the eastern Sandhills south of Valentine. In 1950 another ground route was established 
‘in the Clay-Fillmore area of fresh-water ponds by Biologist Levi L. Mohler, and George 
Schildman. Data from the two more recently established routes is to be found in the PR 
Quarterly Report but will not be included in this report because of the lack of directly 
comparable trend data. 
Aerial Coverage 
G. K. Larson, B. M. Taylor, and R. H. Macomber of the Missouri River 
Basin Surveys (Grand Island Office) set up an aerial route of 29 1/4 square miles in 
1949 in that area of the eastern Sandhills south of Valentine between the Niobrara and 
Loup Rivers. May counts were made in 1949 and 1950, and a July count in 1950. 
In 1948, after preliminary flights, Nebraska Game Supervisor L. P. Vance, 
and Conservation Officer A. O. Edmunds set up in 1949 an aerial route of 29 1/5 miles 
in the eastern Sandhills. This route, known as the Lazy S, was run in May and June 
of 1949 and 1950, Extension of aerial coverage westward was begun in 1950, 
The 1/4 mile transect method was used on both aerial and ground routes. 
Spot samples of individual water areas were studied during the 1950 season. 
The ground coverage in the Sandhills is hampered by the topography and 
the unimproved Sandhill trails. The water areas vary from very small, usually 
