BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 37 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

American Bittern In Gulf Coastal Prairie

All regionsGulf Coastal PrairieWetland birds

American Bittern in Gulf Coastal Prairie has fallen sharply: down 52% on the route-weighted index since 1978.

-52%Since 1978TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
9Routes In RegionSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
13YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable SignalsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →

long arc declinecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →

American Bittern has fallen sharply in Gulf Coastal Prairie: down 52% on the route-weighted index since 1978.

Routes In Gulf Coastal Prairie

Routes recording American Bittern in Gulf Coastal Prairie.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →
StowellTEXAS42017
LafitteLOUISIANA11978
CreoleLOUISIANA11967
RichardLOUISIANA12009
Ltl ChenierLOUISIANA12003
Ville PlatteLOUISIANA12009
WinnieTEXAS11997
Rock IslandTEXAS12011
Oyster LakeTEXAS12006

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