Species · BCR 11 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Burrowing Owl In Prairie Potholes

Burrowing Owl in Prairie Potholes has collapsed: down 94% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

-94%Since 1969
45Routes In Region
54Years

Notable Signals

long arc declinecomputed index

Burrowing Owl has collapsed in Prairie Potholes: down 94% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Burrowing Owl in Prairie Potholes is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.23). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±324.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2029
0.00Projected 2029 index
0.000.2395% range
±324.3%Backtest error
19672029
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
20250.000.000.23
20260.000.000.23
20270.000.000.23
20280.000.000.23
20290.000.000.23

Routes In Prairie Potholes

Routes recording Burrowing Owl in Prairie Potholes.
HarlemMONTANA32018
GlasgowMONTANA31989
ShelbyMONTANA22016
ChinookMONTANA22019
Eagle CreekNEBRASKA21980
DenbighNORTH-DAKOTA21976
Wild RoseNORTH-DAKOTA21998
CondeSOUTH-DAKOTA21967
GormanSOUTH-DAKOTA22006
Hay LakeMONTANA11990
SunburstMONTANA11995
VirgelleMONTANA12023
ClevelandMONTANA11990
OswegoMONTANA12023
RedstoneMONTANA11992
Great FallsMONTANA12013
Ester LakeMONTANA12024
SacoMONTANA12024
SpartaNEBRASKA11991
MidwayNEBRASKA11967
SydneyNORTH-DAKOTA11976
Lake GeorgeNORTH-DAKOTA12010
Horsehead LkNORTH-DAKOTA12007
BuchananNORTH-DAKOTA12017
LakotaNORTH-DAKOTA12008

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