BirdAnalyst
Species · Alabama · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Black-crowned Night Heron Population Trend in Alabama

All statesWetland birds

Black-crowned Night Heron in Alabama has surged: up 194% on the route-weighted index since 1972.

+194%Since 1972
17Routes In State
27Years

Notable Black-crowned Night Heron Trends in Alabama

long arc increasecomputed index

Black-crowned Night Heron has surged in Alabama: up 194% on the route-weighted index since 1972.

Black-crowned Night Heron Population Forecast in Alabama

If the recent trend holds, Black-crowned Night Heron in Alabama is projected to fall about 22% by 2028 — from 0.10 in 2023 to a central estimate of 0.08 (95% range 0.01–0.14). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±45.8%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-22%Change by 2028
0.08Projected 2028 index
0.01–0.1495% range
±45.8%Backtest error
19672028
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
20240.070.010.14
20250.070.010.14
20260.070.010.14
20270.070.010.14
20280.080.010.14

Black-crowned Night Heron Survey Routes in Alabama

Routes recording Black-crowned Night Heron in Alabama.
Wheeler Dam720232011
Valhermoso Spgs319751975
Drummond220072007
Seale220012001
St Florian119671967
Mclellan119891989
Nixburg 2120012001
Pine Grove119991992
Dauphin Is119761976
Dauphin Is 2120172001
Greensport120052005
Triana120042004
Greensboro120152015
Wallsboro120162016
Warrior Std119851970
Kymulga120042004
Grangeburg119821972

Black-crowned Night Heron Population Trend in Other States

arizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisindianaiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

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