BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 22 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Bald Eagle In Eastern Tallgrass Prairie

All regionsEastern Tallgrass PrairieGeneralists

Bald Eagle in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie has surged: up 28× on the route-weighted index since 1999.

28×Since 1999TrendPercent 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 →
112Routes 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 →
27YearsYears 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 increasecomputed 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 →

Bald Eagle has surged in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie: up 28× on the route-weighted index since 1999.

Bald Eagle In Eastern Tallgrass Prairie Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Bald Eagle in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie is projected to fall about 21% by 2029 — from 0.29 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.23 (95% range 0.16–0.29). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±35.2%, with 20% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-21%Change by 2029TrendPercent 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 →
0.23Projected 2029 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.16–0.2995% range95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
±35.2%Backtest errorBacktest errorTypical error when we hold out the most recent years, forecast them, and compare to what actually happened. Lower means a more trustworthy projection.Full methodology →
If the recent trend holds, Bald Eagle in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie is projected to fall about 21% by 2029 — from 0.29 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.23 (95% range 0.16–0.29). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±35.2%, with 20% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19962029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →95% low95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →95% high95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
20250.200.130.26
20260.200.140.27
20270.210.150.28
20280.220.160.28
20290.230.160.29

Routes In Eastern Tallgrass Prairie

Routes recording Bald Eagle in Eastern Tallgrass 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 →
MelroseIOWA42021
BelleviewILLINOIS32024
MontpelierINDIANA32019
OhioMISSOURI32018
MinonkILLINOIS22022
BeaucoupILLINOIS22022
Camp PointILLINOIS22023
FowlerINDIANA22022
JamestownINDIANA22024
CubaINDIANA22024
DinsdaleIOWA22024
PittsburgKANSAS22007
Ash CreekMINNESOTA22024
FrontenacMINNESOTA22023
RensselaerMISSOURI22024
SticklervillMISSOURI22017
GretnaNEBRASKA22016
RichlandNEBRASKA22024
BloomvilleOHIO22024
BotkinsOHIO22018
KalidaOHIO22009
No KentonOHIO22024
AtkinsonILLINOIS12024
GeneseoILLINOIS12018
SheffieldILLINOIS12024

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