BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 16 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

All regionsSouthern Rockies / Colorado PlateauWetland birds

Great Blue Heron in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau has surged: up 480% on the route-weighted index since 1972.

+480%Since 1972
107Routes In Region
51Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has surged in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau: up 480% on the route-weighted index since 1972.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to rise about 42% by 2029 — from 0.26 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.36 (95% range 0.18–0.55). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±76.2%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+42%Change by 2029
0.36Projected 2029 index
0.18–0.5595% range
±76.2%Backtest error
19682029
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
20250.340.160.53
20260.350.160.54
20270.350.170.54
20280.360.170.55
20290.360.180.55

Routes In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau.
BufordCOLORADO112023
CokedaleCOLORADO52024
Cochetopa PassCOLORADO52022
WaldenCOLORADO42019
CortezCOLORADO42007
Stillwater Pass 2COLORADO42016
JensenUTAH42011
NotomUTAH42024
KamasUTAH42024
YampaCOLORADO22018
HarmonyCOLORADO22019
AspenCOLORADO22024
Cheesman LkCOLORADO22016
MoffatCOLORADO22023
Lost LakeCOLORADO22005
CastletonCOLORADO22024
DoylevilleCOLORADO22024
GuffeyCOLORADO22023
Rio Grnds RsCOLORADO22024
Cortez 2COLORADO22016
Bluewater LakeNEW-MEXICO22007
Cerro VerdeNEW-MEXICO22016
Navajo LakeUTAH22009
Cane Spr DesUTAH21994
HatchUTAH22003

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