BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 16 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Black-crowned Night Heron In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

All regionsSouthern Rockies / Colorado PlateauWetland birds

Black-crowned Night Heron in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau has collapsed: down 93% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

-93%Since 1970TrendPercent 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 →
26Routes 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 →
45YearsYears 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 →

Black-crowned Night Heron has collapsed in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau: down 93% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Black-crowned Night Heron In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Black-crowned Night Heron in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.16). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±194.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange 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 →
0.00Projected 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 →
0.00–0.1695% 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 →
±194.5%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, Black-crowned Night Heron in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.16). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±194.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19682029
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 →
20250.000.000.16
20260.000.000.16
20270.000.000.16
20280.000.000.16
20290.000.000.16

Routes In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

Routes recording Black-crowned Night Heron in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau.
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 →
Rio Grnds RsCOLORADO121999
ClevelandUTAH42014
BufordCOLORADO31984
San LuisCOLORADO22009
MoscaCOLORADO22008
PowderhornCOLORADO21999
ValenciaNEW-MEXICO21996
Stinking Lk.NEW-MEXICO21996
MoabUTAH22012
HuntARIZONA11999
ToroweapARIZONA12017
HarmonyCOLORADO11995
MoffatCOLORADO11979
DoloresCOLORADO11985
BlancaCOLORADO11980
WaldenCOLORADO12019
Pinos CreekCOLORADO11988
AlamosaCOLORADO12024
Groundhog RsCOLORADO11994
Lake City 2COLORADO12018
Moon PassCOLORADO12003
GallinasNEW-MEXICO12005
Angel Fire 2NEW-MEXICO12024
Fish Lake NfUTAH11992
BicknellUTAH12002

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