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

Golden Eagle In Shortgrass Prairie

All regionsShortgrass PrairieBirds of prey

Golden Eagle in Shortgrass Prairie has fallen sharply: down 65% on the route-weighted index since 1972.

-65%Since 1972TrendPercent 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 →
52Routes 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 →
53YearsYears 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 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 →

Golden Eagle has fallen sharply in Shortgrass Prairie: down 65% on the route-weighted index since 1972.

Golden Eagle In Shortgrass Prairie Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Golden Eagle in Shortgrass Prairie is projected to fall about 23% by 2030 — from 0.05 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.04 (95% range 0.00–0.12). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±37.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-23%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 →
0.04Projected 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 →
0.00–0.1295% 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 →
±37.6%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, Golden Eagle in Shortgrass Prairie is projected to fall about 23% by 2030 — from 0.05 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.04 (95% range 0.00–0.12). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±37.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19692030
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 →
20260.040.000.13
20270.040.000.13
20280.040.000.13
20290.040.000.13
20300.040.000.12

Routes In Shortgrass Prairie

Routes recording Golden Eagle 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 →
TrincheraCOLORADO32000
Mica ButteCOLORADO21986
Wildhorse LCOLORADO22011
EllicottCOLORADO21999
KarvalCOLORADO22014
FarleyNEW-MEXICO21999
LoganNEW-MEXICO21997
BriggsdaleCOLORADO11992
PinneoCOLORADO12010
KiowaCOLORADO12002
Last ChanceCOLORADO12014
AbarrCOLORADO12011
BoyeroCOLORADO11997
GilpinCOLORADO12025
Two ButtesCOLORADO12025
HudsonCOLORADO11995
BethuneCOLORADO12007
EdisonCOLORADO12018
CrowleyCOLORADO12018
VillegreenCOLORADO12024
CampoCOLORADO12001
Kiowa 2COLORADO12022
Cone MtnCOLORADO12024
GroverCOLORADO12021
StonehamCOLORADO12019

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