of highly successful production from the early 
nesting efforts, 
Late nesting indexes were below 1962 by 
40 percent though 10 percent above the 
average, Dabblers were down 50 percent 
from 1962 and 0.4 below the average. Com- 
parisons to 1962 and the 5-year average 
by species is as follows: mallard, -35, 
-0.3; gadwall, -28, +448; blue-winged teal, 
-64, -9; pintail, -70, -40; redhead, -39, 
+55; ruddy, +95, +97. 
NORTH DAKOTA 
Data supplied by Charles H. Schroeder 
North Dakota Game and Fish Department 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Water conditions in North Dakota at the 
time of the mid-July survey were good as, 
or better than, in 1962. In that respect the 
1963 water index is misleading, since the 
water index of 4.04 represented a 24 percent 
decrease from the 1962 water index of 5,33, 
This discrepancy resulted from the num- 
berous type 1 water areas recorded in 1962 
(survey followed heavy rains), while in 1963 
the dense vegetation prevented the detection 
of some of the type 1 and 3 areas, The 1963 
water index represented a 16 percent increase 
over the 1958—1962 average water index of 
3.49, 
The number of water areas observed along 
each transect and the resulting water index 
(water areas a square mile) are presented 
in table F-22 (p. 149), 
Production Indexes 
The 1963 mid-July brood index (broods a 
square mile) of 1.66 represented anincrease 
of 152 percent over the 1962 brood index 
of 0,66, and an increase of 32 percent over 
the 1955-1962 average index of 1.26. The 
1961 brood index was not included inthe 1955- 
1962 average, since comparable brood data 
were not obtained in 1961. 
The number of duck broods observed along 
each transect in 1963 and the resulting brood 
index are presented in table F-22 (p. 149), 
The average number of ducklings a broodin 
1963 was 7.7 as compared to 8.0 in 1962; 
6.2 in 1961; 8.8 in 1960; 7.0 in 1959; 8,0 in 
1958; 7.7 in 1957; 7.3 in 1956; and 7.7 in 1955. 
The distribution of the duck broods by age 
classes I, II, and III in 1963 was only slightly 
different from that of 1962 and the 1955-1962 
averages. In 1963 a larger percent of the 
total broods were inclass II thanwasthe case 
in 1962, or for the 1955-1962 averages, 
The distribution of the duck broods by age 
in 1963 is presented in table F-23. (p. 150). 
The species composition of the duck broods 
observed in 1963 is presented in table F-24 
(p. 150), along with that for 1962 and for the 
1955 through 1962 average. 
Conclusions 
Water conditions continued to improve 
slowly in North Dakota in 1963 from those 
experienced during 1959 and 1961. The 
improvements were accompanied by a very 
profuse growth of wetlands vegetation which 
severely limited observations on many ofthe 
water areas and even resulted in some ofthe 
type 1 and 3 areas being missed during the 
survey. 
A fair number of canvasback and redhead 
broods were observed during the survey, At 
this time it would appear that these two 
species are experiencing their best produc- 
tion year since the mid-1950’s, 
The fall flight of ducks from North Dakota 
in 1963 is expected to be considerably above 
that of 1962 and it could be the largest 
flight since 1956. 
NEBRASKA 
Data supplied by Nebraska 
Game, Forestation and Parks 
Commission 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Water conditions were generally good 
throughout the Sandhills portion of Nebraska 
during the breeding ground surveys. Some 
portions of the extreme eastern and western 
sections of the Sandhills were only in fair 
condition with regard to the availability of 
water. Survey flights were made during the 
period May 14 through May 20, 1963. 
The increased supply of water during the 
spring migration period helped to hold many 
birds in the area, 
Water levels were either maintained, or 
dropped only slightly, until about July 1. 
34 
