CENTRAL FLYWAY 
It is the opinion of the biologists making the survey that a 
breeding population index of 140, 981 is about average for Wyoming. 
Production Indices - Production surveys were not conducted. 
Conclusions = 
In view of the drought conditions which exist in the State, it is 
estimated that fewer birds will be produced in Wyoming this year. 
NEBRASKA 
Weather and Water Conditions - 
Weather conditions for the 1954 season have been unusual. 
Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in early spring causing two 
weeks or more advancement in the first breeding activity. Then, 
a severe freeze accompanied by a blizzard occurred in the 
sandhills the first of May. This was followed by relatively normal 
spring weather until early June. Very hot summer weather 
accompanied by many high winds has prevailed the remainder of 
June and up to mid-July. 
While no trend data is available for sandhill water areas, 
observations show that water levels for the western sandhills are 
generally good. The shortage of rainfall for the past two years has 
reduced the number of potholes and other temporary type water 
areas somewhat from 1953 but those remaining have been available 
to breeding waterfowl throughout the season. The permanent lakes 
have maintained at least normal levels. 
In the eastern sandhills meanwhile, little recovery was made 
in the number of temporary, rainfall controlled water areas from 
the 1953 dry-up. The 1954 dry-up has been severe since early 
spring even with normal rainfall in May and June. Only a very few 
of these areas have been available to breeding waterfowl. 
The lakes of the eastern sandhills which are controlled by 
ground water, were at near-record levels at the beginning of the 
breeding season and have maintained at least normal levels until 
mid-July. The bulk of breeding and production has been confined 
to these areas. 
45 
