Species · Colorado · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Forster's Tern Population Trend in Colorado

Forster's Tern in Colorado has collapsed: down 77% on the route-weighted index since 1992.

-77%Since 1992
5Routes In State
19Years

Notable Forster's Tern Trends in Colorado

long arc declinecomputed index

Forster's Tern has collapsed in Colorado: down 77% on the route-weighted index since 1992.

Forster's Tern Population Forecast in Colorado

If the recent trend holds, Forster's Tern in Colorado is projected to stay roughly flat through 2021, near 0.03 (95% range 0.00–0.11). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±95%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2021
0.03Projected 2021 index
0.000.1195% range
±95%Backtest error
19902021
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
20170.030.000.11
20180.030.000.11
20190.030.000.11
20200.030.000.11
20210.030.000.11

Forster's Tern Survey Routes in Colorado

Routes recording Forster's Tern in Colorado.
Neegrande419971997
Fort Morgan319961996
Walden220161990
Julesburg120092009
Haswell119991997

Forster's Tern Population Trend in Other States

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