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Species · Indiana · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Eastern Meadowlark Population Trend in Indiana

All statesGrassland birds

Eastern Meadowlark in Indiana has fallen sharply: down 70% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-70%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 →
59YearsYears 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 70% 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 36% by 2030 — from 11 in 2025 to a central estimate of 6.8 (95% range 0.54–13). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±10.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-36%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 →
6.8Projected 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 →
0.54–1395% 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 →
±10.6%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 36% by 2030 — from 11 in 2025 to a central estimate of 6.8 (95% range 0.54–13). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±10.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662030
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 →
20268.21.914
20277.81.614
20287.51.214
20297.10.8813
20306.80.5413

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
Newberry2820251999
Kankakee Sands2820252000
Packertown 22320252005
Witts Station2220252000
Middlebury2120251989
Muncie2019971981
Jamestown2020251986
Shelbyville2020251983
Brookville2020251966
Cuba1920252017
Fowler1820251966
Decatur1820251999
W Lafayette1720251981
New Phila1720251982
New Castle1720242002
Monticello1520251981
Thorntown1520251982
Vevay1520251966
Indian Spgs1220251982
New Brunswick1220252024
Montpelier1220242018
Georgia1220251999
Tipton1019921966
Washington1020251987

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 2026-08-14.