BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 30 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron In New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

All regionsNew England / Mid-Atlantic CoastWetland birds

Great Blue Heron in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast has surged: up 220% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+220%Since 1968
149Routes In Region
58Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has surged in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast: up 220% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast is projected to rise about 30% by 2029 — from 1.9 in 2024 to a central estimate of 2.4 (95% range 1.6–3.3). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±56.5%, with 40% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+30%Change by 2029
2.4Projected 2029 index
1.6–3.395% range
±56.5%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
20252.31.53.2
20262.41.53.2
20272.41.53.2
20282.41.63.2
20292.41.63.3

Routes In New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast.
St. George'S IslandMARYLAND1142017
HarringtonDELAWARE382024
BlackbirdDELAWARE232024
HongaMARYLAND152024
Colonial PkyVIRGINIA141998
Lowes XrdsDELAWARE131991
HolleyvilleDELAWARE72004
Fair HillMARYLAND61996
Warren 2MASSACHUSETTS62023
Mt PleasantDELAWARE52019
Pepperbox 2DELAWARE52023
Tall TimbersMARYLAND52014
MadisonMARYLAND52024
MarionMASSACHUSETTS52024
BrocktonMASSACHUSETTS52019
N. AndoverMASSACHUSETTS52024
Holleyville 2DELAWARE42018
Grove NeckMARYLAND41996
BrandonVIRGINIA42024
WoodstockCONNECTICUT32007
WilmingtonDELAWARE32014
PepperboxDELAWARE32016
Kittery PtMAINE32023
EastonMARYLAND32019
Forest GroveMARYLAND32023

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