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Platte River Status: A common migrant; rare and local breeding species. Tout (1947) recorded eared grebe as an uncommon migrant in Lincoln County, although he mentioned unverified reports of nests. Occurrence dates there extend from 29 April to 12 June, and 2 September to 11 November. Rosche (1979) reported eared grebe principally as a spring migrant during 12 April to 3 June with one fall record (15 October 1978) in the lower North Platte River Valley. Eared grebe was reported as a rare breeding species on Keystone Lake, Keith County, in 1977 (Rosche 1979).

Breeding Range: A rare and local breeding species in the Sandhills and Platte River Valley; very local on the Eastern Plain.

Breeding Population: We failed to record this species on our random census plots in 1979-1980. We believe that no more than 250 pairs nest annually in our study area.

Habitat: Eared grebe requires dense stands of emergent aquatic vegetation such as hardstem bulrush for nesting. A high degree of vegetation-open water interspersion is required to provide foraging habitat for adults and young. Faanes (1982) reported highest breeding densities on a central North Dakota study area occurred on permanent wetlands. Kantrud and Stewart (1984) reported highest breeding densities across North Dakota on seasonal wetlands (3.9 pairs/km²). The presence of pairs and broods on the North Platte sewage lagoon suggests that at least occasional use is made of that artificial habitat type.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: The net effect of conversion of wetlands to cropland is negative. As with most aquatic species occurring here, the loss of 90% of the wetlands in the Rainwater Basin area, and diversion of water in the Platte River system has had a significant negative impact on the nesting population.

Nesting Data: Faanes observed 2 eared grebe pairs on the North Platte sewage lagoon on 29 May 1979. An adult with a brood of 4 was observed at the same location on 19 June 1980 (W. Norling). We found an adult dead on the highway in T. 15 N. - R. 30 W., Lincoln County on 15 June 1979. Sharpe and Payne (1966) reported colonies of 20 to 100 nests on Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northcentral Garden County during 7-11 June 1965. Stewart (1975) reported egg dates extending from 21 May to 9 August in North Dakota.