BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 24 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron In Central Hardwoods

All regionsCentral HardwoodsWetland birds

Great Blue Heron in Central Hardwoods has surged: up 20× on the route-weighted index since 1968.

20×Since 1968
158Routes In Region
58Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has surged in Central Hardwoods: up 20× on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in Central Hardwoods is projected to rise about 142% by 2029 — from 0.96 in 2024 to a central estimate of 2.3 (95% range 1.5–3.2). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±62.8%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+142%Change by 2029
2.3Projected 2029 index
1.5–3.295% range
±62.8%Backtest error
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 index95% low95% high
20252.21.33.0
20262.21.43.1
20272.31.43.1
20282.31.43.1
20292.31.53.2

Routes In Central Hardwoods

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in Central Hardwoods.
Wheeler DamALABAMA1142023
TrianaALABAMA182012
PeytonsvilleTENNESSEE82023
PimentoINDIANA72024
EastviewKENTUCKY62024
CascadeMISSOURI62023
Valhermoso Spg 2ALABAMA52014
MillersburgINDIANA52019
Kings MtnKENTUCKY52024
MorganfieldKENTUCKY52024
PulaskiMISSOURI52021
Clear SpringINDIANA42024
Bays ForkKENTUCKY42019
RiverqueenKENTUCKY42023
CourtlandALABAMA32021
BremenILLINOIS32023
SpencerINDIANA32024
CumbackINDIANA32016
VevayINDIANA32022
CantonKENTUCKY32024
Cedar GroveKENTUCKY32024
McbrayerKENTUCKY32024
HodgenvilleKENTUCKY32003
DixonKENTUCKY32024
PleasurevillKENTUCKY32024

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