BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 28 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron In Appalachian Mountains

All regionsAppalachian MountainsWetland birds

Great Blue Heron in Appalachian Mountains has surged: up 437% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+437%Since 1968
340Routes In Region
58Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has surged in Appalachian Mountains: up 437% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in Appalachian Mountains is projected to rise about 63% by 2029 — from 0.57 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.94 (95% range 0.56–1.3). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±67.8%, with 20% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+63%Change by 2029
0.94Projected 2029 index
0.56–1.395% range
±67.8%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
20250.890.521.3
20260.900.531.3
20270.910.541.3
20280.920.551.3
20290.940.561.3

Routes In Appalachian Mountains

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in Appalachian Mountains.
RiversideALABAMA412013
HanoverWEST-VIRGINIA122021
GreensportALABAMA72024
Signal MtnTENNESSEE72024
Loft MtnVIRGINIA62009
StevensonALABAMA52024
BeaverPENNSYLVANIA52023
GuntersvilleALABAMA42017
TalladegaALABAMA42024
HopeNEW-JERSEY41993
Warwick 2NEW-YORK42013
Plesant GrovPENNSYLVANIA42022
DrehersvillePENNSYLVANIA41998
Drehersville 2PENNSYLVANIA42024
Lost RiverWEST-VIRGINIA42023
SummittALABAMA31978
BrooksvilleALABAMA32023
Kehoe 2KENTUCKY32023
JenningsMARYLAND32023
RamseysburgNEW-JERSEY32024
Oxford 2NEW-YORK32024
BrevardNORTH-CAROLINA32019
AdamsvilleOHIO31989
SmithfieldOHIO32023
Mohican S.F.OHIO32024

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