CENTRAL FLYWAY 
NEBRASKA =- Continued 
Production Indices 
All indications were that the 1958 waterfowl production success 
was at least average. The first broods were reported and observed some- 
what earlier than the average of the ten preceding years; however, the 
peak brood occurrence Was very nearly average. Brood surveys made during 
the period July 7 -- 11 showed that of 63 broods of all species observed, 
56% were of age class I, 38% of age class II and 6% of age class III. As 
the observed broods were predominately blue-winged teal, these data indi- 
cate hatching peaks comparable to the average. 
_ Aerial brood counts were again made over two select breeding 
population routes in each area. These counts which were designed to pro- 
vide an estimate of the production success of the breeding population, 
indicate one brood per 18.8 ducks observed on the breeding population 
surveys in the eastern Sandhills, one brood per 7.7 ducks in the central 
Sandhills and one brood per 16.1 ducks in the western Sandhills. The 
survey conditions encountered were so different from those of the pre~ 
ceding surveys that comparison of the results is impossible. 
An average of 6.8 ducklings was observed in the broods of all 
age classes and all species. 
Conclusions 
From the data available, it may be assumed that the number of 
ducks entering the Flyway from Nebraska in 1958 will. show some increase 
over 1957 and a substantial’ increase over the average of the 1954-57 fall 
flights o 
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