Species · BCR 35 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron In Chihuahuan Desert

Great Blue Heron in Chihuahuan Desert has risen sharply: up 56% on the route-weighted index since 1975.

+56%Since 1975
20Routes In Region
30Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has risen sharply in Chihuahuan Desert: up 56% on the route-weighted index since 1975.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in Chihuahuan Desert is projected to stay roughly flat through 2028, near 0.13 (95% range 0.00–0.39). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±127.8%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+9%Change by 2028
0.13Projected 2028 index
0.000.3995% range
±127.8%Backtest error
19692028
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
20240.130.000.39
20250.130.000.39
20260.130.000.39
20270.130.000.39
20280.130.000.39

Routes In Chihuahuan Desert

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in Chihuahuan Desert.
Quitman Canyon 2TEXAS32019
LaborcitaNEW-MEXICO22019
Black GapTEXAS22019
PresidioTEXAS22023
San AntonioNEW-MEXICO11974
JornadaNEW-MEXICO12023
Bitter LakeNEW-MEXICO12019
Red RockNEW-MEXICO12023
MesillaNEW-MEXICO11997
PinonNEW-MEXICO12001
ColumbusNEW-MEXICO12009
Laborcita 2NEW-MEXICO12022
Sunshine WllNEW-MEXICO12005
ComstockTEXAS12006
LongfellowTEXAS11975
Devils R CynTEXAS12015
ToyahvaleTEXAS12001
Quitman Cyn.TEXAS12000
CanutilloTEXAS12016
Dove Mtn.TEXAS12006

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