Species · Nebraska · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024
American Bittern Population Trend in Nebraska
American Bittern in Nebraska has surged: up 324% on the route-weighted index since 1972.
+324%Since 1972
15Routes In State
48Years
Notable American Bittern Trends in Nebraska
long arc increasecomputed index
American Bittern has surged in Nebraska: up 324% on the route-weighted index since 1972.
American Bittern Population Forecast in Nebraska
If the recent trend holds, American Bittern in Nebraska is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.39 (95% range 0.00–0.78). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±65.7%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
+4%Change by 2029
0.39Projected 2029 index
0.00–0.7895% range
±65.7%Backtest error
| Year | Projected index | 95% low | 95% high |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.37 | 0.00 | 0.76 |
| 2026 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 0.77 |
| 2027 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 0.77 |
| 2028 | 0.39 | 0.00 | 0.77 |
| 2029 | 0.39 | 0.00 | 0.78 |
American Bittern Survey Routes in Nebraska
| Wheeler Co | 8 | 2024 | 1978 |
| Bassett | 6 | 2024 | 2019 |
| Crescent Lk | 3 | 2016 | 1980 |
| Kennedy | 3 | 2024 | 1993 |
| Swan Lake | 2 | 2022 | 1984 |
| Kearney | 1 | 1974 | 1974 |
| Murray Lake | 1 | 2011 | 2011 |
| Brownlee | 1 | 2024 | 1994 |
| Mullen | 1 | 2017 | 2017 |
| Gretna | 1 | 1972 | 1972 |
| Irvington | 1 | 1970 | 1970 |
| Surprise | 1 | 1972 | 1972 |
| Nenzel | 1 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Midway | 1 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Piester Lake | 1 | 2023 | 1967 |
American Bittern Population Trend in Other States
alaskacaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisindianaiowakansaslouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniasouth-carolinasouth-dakotatexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22.