Table IV. - Sandhill Brood Counts, Mid-July. 
niger nei 
223 
Western Eastern Overall 
Routes Routes Routes 
Broods observed 43 5 48 
Total ducklings 292 35 327 
Ducklings per brood 6.8 
Broods per square mile 
1954 1.5 0.9 1.4 
1953 1.4 2.2 1.6 
Change 1953 to 1954 + 7% -59% -13% 
Average 1948 to 1953 2.2 3.2 2.4 
Chage average to 1954 -32% -72% -33% 
Broods per pair 
1954 .13 22 14 
1953 .O7 
Change 1953 to 1954 +100% 
Average 1948 to 1953 12 
Change average to 1954 + 17% 

The trends indicated in Table [V may have been influenced by the uniform 
brood appearance at the time of the counts. Later observations indicated an unusually 
good hatching and rearing season though broods continued small. 
Summary 
The sandhills breeding population of 1954 was down significantly fran that of 
1953 and from the average of the six prior years. This loss occurred mainly in the 
eastern area and appears to be directly related to the loss of available habitat due 
to drought. Production appears to have been near normal as to brood size and above 
normal in broods per pair. 
It is believed that the indicated increase in production success may have very 
nearly offset the loss in breeding population resulting in only a minor decrease in 
overall production. 
