NEBRASKA ~- Continued 
Table II. 1958 Waterfowl Population Trends 
1958 Aerial Index. so eee seve >? 173,805 
1957 Aerial Index... 2... 2 6 ~ > 124,165 change to 1958 / 
Average of 1954-57 aerial indexes . e 6 123,534 change to 1958 ri 
1958 Breeding Duck Index* . ... 5s 6 @ 176, 376 
f 
f 
+ & * 
e td] * 
1957 Breeding Duck Index ...c.eece-s 154,800 change to 1958 
Average of 1954-57 Breeding Duck Indexes. 128,142 change to 1958 
* Corrected for non-breeding or loafing ducks and hens on nests which 
could not be seen during the aerial surveys. 
These surveys indicated the 1958 breeding duck population in the 
Sandhills to have increased from that of the 1957 season and to have in- 
creased significantly from the average breeding population during the four 
prior years. As in past years, observations indicated this increase to 
have been directly correlated to the increased habitat available at the 
beginning of the season. 
It can be noted from Table ITI that increases were general for 
all species except the blue-winged teal which species had been attracted 
in large numbers by the late-appearing habitat available in 1957. 
Table III. 1958 Waterfowl Breeding Population Species Composition and 

Trends 
Percent of Percent 
Corrected Species Indexes* 1958 1957 Change 
Eastern Central Western Over-all_ Population Index 1957-58 
Mallard 3,269 7,079 17,719 28,067 15.9 26,799 # 4.7 
Gadwall 952 1,065 8,068 10,085 56 5,664  f 78.1 
Baldpate 4O5 271 1,230 1,906 Vek 1,281 # 48.8 
Pintail 3,566 8,756 20,347 32,669 18.5 18,575 # 75.9 
G-W Teal 136 615 751 0.4 176 326.7 
B-W Teal: 20,743 21,638 28,920 71, 301 4oO.4 78,659 - 9.4 
Shoveler 2,790 3,730 13,737 20,247 11.5 13,703 # 47.8 
Redhead 135 378 = 55,973 6,486 3.7 5,133 f 26.4 
Canvasback 2,931 
Scaup 126 =1,200 1, 326 0.8 889 7 49.2 
Ruddy 240 = 3,151 3,391 1.9 990 #2h2.5 
Ringneck 147 147 O.1 
TOTAL 31,997 43,419 100,960 176,376 . 100.0 154,800 # 13.9 
* Adjusted for hens-on-nest and non=-breeders. 
78 
