BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 18 · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Black-crowned Night Heron In Shortgrass Prairie

All regionsShortgrass PrairieWetland birds

Black-crowned Night Heron in Shortgrass Prairie has surged: up 167% on the route-weighted index since 1978.

+167%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 →
33Routes 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 →
44YearsYears 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 →

Black-crowned Night Heron has surged in Shortgrass Prairie: up 167% on the route-weighted index since 1978.

Black-crowned Night Heron In Shortgrass Prairie Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Black-crowned Night Heron in Shortgrass Prairie is projected to rise about 100% by 2030 — from 0.21 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.41 (95% range 0.00–0.93). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±96.9%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+100%Change by 2030TrendPercent 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 →
0.41Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.9395% 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 →
±96.9%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 Shortgrass Prairie is projected to rise about 100% by 2030 — from 0.21 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.41 (95% range 0.00–0.93). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±96.9%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19752030
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 →
20260.400.000.92
20270.410.000.92
20280.410.000.93
20290.410.000.93
20300.410.000.93

Routes In Shortgrass Prairie

Routes recording Black-crowned Night Heron in Shortgrass 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 →
ClaytonvilleTEXAS282022
PantexTEXAS92025
WakaTEXAS82016
GrigstonKANSAS72008
TenmileTEXAS72019
FloydadaTEXAS62018
LeotiKANSAS52003
TwichellTEXAS42025
NeegrandeCOLORADO32018
BenkelmanNEBRASKA32004
DalhartTEXAS32006
Last ChanceCOLORADO22004
HobbsNEW-MEXICO22025
CircleTEXAS22017
TexlineTEXAS21996
Frankel CityTEXAS22009
PlainsTEXAS22017
HudsonCOLORADO12013
ArsenalCOLORADO12009
Arsenal 2COLORADO12025
PlymellKANSAS12023
WinonaKANSAS12016
PaxtonNEBRASKA11985
VariaderoNEW-MEXICO12013
MaxwellNEW-MEXICO12017

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.