Species · New Mexico · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron Population Trend in New Mexico

Great Blue Heron in New Mexico has risen sharply: up 71% on the route-weighted index since 1992.

+71%Since 1992
31Routes In State
34Years

Notable Great Blue Heron Trends in New Mexico

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has risen sharply in New Mexico: up 71% on the route-weighted index since 1992.

Great Blue Heron Population Forecast in New Mexico

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in New Mexico is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.11 (95% range 0.00–0.24). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±66.8%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2029
0.11Projected 2029 index
0.000.2495% range
±66.8%Backtest error
19742029
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
20250.100.000.24
20260.110.000.24
20270.110.000.24
20280.110.000.24
20290.110.000.24

Great Blue Heron Survey Routes in New Mexico

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in New Mexico.
Maxwell520231998
Cooley Lake220011996
Laborcita220191996
Bluewater Lake220072007
Cerro Verde220162016
San Simon120082008
Cebolla120182018
Ojo Sarco120242023
Farley120142014
La Cienega120072001
Pecos120042004
San Antonio119741974
Dulce120222008
Angel Fire 2120212021
Jornada120232010
Laborcita 2120222022
Sedan120221994
Vallecitos120242021
Gallinas120191997
Variadero120112011
Rosebud120172001
Pastura120162016
Reserve120091996
Bitter Lake120192003
La Plata120132013

Great Blue Heron Population Trend in Other States

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