Species · BCR 17 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

American Bittern In Badlands and Prairies

American Bittern in Badlands and Prairies has risen sharply: up 66% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

+66%Since 1970
36Routes In Region
50Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

American Bittern has risen sharply in Badlands and Prairies: up 66% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, American Bittern in Badlands and Prairies is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.10 (95% range 0.00–0.23). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±52.9%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2029
0.10Projected 2029 index
0.000.2395% range
±52.9%Backtest error
19672029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20250.100.000.23
20260.100.000.23
20270.100.000.23
20280.100.000.23
20290.100.000.23

Routes In Badlands and Prairies

Routes recording American Bittern in Badlands and Prairies.
LacreekSOUTH-DAKOTA92023
HayesSOUTH-DAKOTA72019
WebsterMONTANA32023
BowmanNORTH-DAKOTA32023
OttumwaSOUTH-DAKOTA32015
LarkNORTH-DAKOTA21982
GorhamNORTH-DAKOTA22007
S. PioneerSOUTH-DAKOTA22024
RoyMONTANA12019
BrusettMONTANA11982
IngomarMONTANA11980
St XavierMONTANA11996
PowdervilleMONTANA11974
AlbionMONTANA12008
Flatwillow 2MONTANA12018
WinnettMONTANA12023
LindsayMONTANA12018
Ft YatesNORTH-DAKOTA11999
DickinsonNORTH-DAKOTA12013
Dunn CenterNORTH-DAKOTA12023
TobaccoNORTH-DAKOTA12007
Cedar CreekNORTH-DAKOTA12015
GolvaNORTH-DAKOTA12003
BentleyNORTH-DAKOTA11988
Glen UllinNORTH-DAKOTA12019

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22.