BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 29 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron In Piedmont

All regionsPiedmontWetland birds

Great Blue Heron in Piedmont has surged: up 20× on the route-weighted index since 1970.

20×Since 1970
153Routes In Region
56Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has surged in Piedmont: up 20× on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in Piedmont is projected to rise about 62% by 2029 — from 0.76 in 2024 to a central estimate of 1.2 (95% range 0.74–1.7). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±68.3%, with 40% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+62%Change by 2029
1.2Projected 2029 index
0.74–1.795% range
±68.3%Backtest error
19672029
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
20251.10.661.6
20261.20.681.7
20271.20.701.7
20281.20.721.7
20291.20.741.7

Routes In Piedmont

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in Piedmont.
HallVIRGINIA92023
Bald FriarMARYLAND51996
LincolntonGEORGIA42013
RutledgeGEORGIA42024
Rock BranchGEORGIA42024
EmmitsburgMARYLAND42024
Upper XrdsMARYLAND42007
CrotonNEW-JERSEY42002
Mount AiryNORTH-CAROLINA42024
AkronPENNSYLVANIA41997
Mt Gretna 2PENNSYLVANIA42018
ShrewsburyPENNSYLVANIA42019
BrodnaxVIRGINIA42023
Sunny SideGEORGIA32017
HebronGEORGIA32019
IjamsvilleMARYLAND32024
PottersvilleNEW-JERSEY32023
ArcolaNORTH-CAROLINA32024
WilgroveNORTH-CAROLINA32023
FlayNORTH-CAROLINA32023
BullockNORTH-CAROLINA32024
BendersvillePENNSYLVANIA32024
DavidVIRGINIA32013
GrovetownGEORGIA22019
MetasvilleGEORGIA22000

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