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

Eastern Meadowlark Population Trend in Indiana

All statesGrassland birds

Eastern Meadowlark in Indiana has fallen sharply: down 71% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-71%Since 1968TrendPercent 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 →
68Routes In StateSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
58YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Eastern Meadowlark Trends in IndianaNotable 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 →

Eastern Meadowlark has fallen sharply in Indiana: down 71% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Eastern Meadowlark Population Forecast in Indiana

If the recent trend holds, Eastern Meadowlark in Indiana is projected to fall about 32% by 2029 — from 10 in 2024 to a central estimate of 7.0 (95% range 0.68–13). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±6.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-32%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 →
7.0Projected 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 →
0.68–1395% 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 →
±6.6%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, Eastern Meadowlark in Indiana is projected to fall about 32% by 2029 — from 10 in 2024 to a central estimate of 7.0 (95% range 0.68–13). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±6.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662029
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 →
20258.42.115
20268.01.714
20277.71.414
20287.31.014
20297.00.6813

Eastern Meadowlark Survey Routes in Indiana

Routes recording Eastern Meadowlark in Indiana.
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 →
Packertown4220041967
Kankakee Sands2720242000
Witts Station2620242000
Packertown 22620242005
Jamestown2520241986
New Phila2520241982
Fowler2320241966
Newberry2320241999
Monticello2120241981
Muncie2019971981
Shelbyville2020241983
Middlebury1920241989
Celestine1820241979
New Castle1720242002
W Lafayette1620241981
Thorntown1620241982
Milroy1520241966
Indian Spgs1520241982
Georgia1420241999
Washington1220241987
Montpelier1220242018
Decatur1220241999
Scottsburg1120241982
Cross Plains1120241999
Tipton1019921966

Eastern Meadowlark Population Trend in Other States

alabamaarkansasconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaillinoisiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourinebraskanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomapennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasvermontvirginiawest-virginiawisconsin

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