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WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY, NEBRASKA, 1954 
Harvey W. Miller 
Introduction 
A waterfowl breeding ground survey has been conducted in Nebraska for the 
seventh consecutive year, The purpose of the survey is to provide indicators to the 
waterfowl population by measuring the seasonal and yearly trends in breeding 
numbers and production success. All data presented were gathered by the writer 
except where noted, 
Method of Sampling and Area Covered 
The main waterfowl breeding grounds of Nebraska are found in the sandhills 
region; therefore, counties located within this region were again used as the study 
area. 
Aerial transects were established for the first time over this area. Data 
were gathered on a systematic sample system using the one-fourth mile transects 
with two observers. Only observed ducks were recorded flying at 100-150 feet of 
altitude using a Cessna 170 airplane which cruised at a calculated ground speed of 
95-105 miles per hour, 
Ground transects were again covered using the same routes and methods as 
were used in previous years. Data from these counts were used to determine trends 
from previous years and also as a basis of determining species indices from the 
aerial counts. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in March and April causing two weeks 
or more advancement in the first breeding activity. Then, a severe freeze and 
blizzard occurred in the sandhills the first week of May. This was followed by 
relatively normal spring weather until mid-June when very hot weather accompanied 
by high winds set in. Late August and early September had intermittent cold rainy 
periods along with more normal summer weather and temperatures. 
No trend data is available for the sandhills water. Observations, however, 
indicate that water levels in the western sandhills were generally good throughout 
the season. Those in the eastern area however, were good only in the ground-water 
controlled lakes, Potholes and other temporary type water areas showed little 
recovery from the 1953 dry-up with the result that most of the breeding waterfowl 
was restricted to the larger permanent type lakes. Many of these lakes showed near 
record levels for at least the early part of the breeding season. 
Late fall rains over the sandhills helped to maintain the water levels and to 
prevent any significant dry-up from occurring. 
