BirdAnalyst
Species · Tennessee · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Blue Heron Population Trend in Tennessee

All statesWetland birds

Great Blue Heron in Tennessee has surged: up 30× on the route-weighted index since 1970.

30×Since 1970
48Routes In State
54Years

Notable Great Blue Heron Trends in Tennessee

long arc increasecomputed index

Great Blue Heron has surged in Tennessee: up 30× on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Great Blue Heron Population Forecast in Tennessee

If the recent trend holds, Great Blue Heron in Tennessee is projected to rise about 32% by 2029 — from 1.5 in 2024 to a central estimate of 2.0 (95% range 0.72–3.4). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±78.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+32%Change by 2029
2.0Projected 2029 index
0.72–3.495% range
±78.1%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
20252.00.643.3
20262.00.663.3
20272.00.683.3
20282.00.703.3
20292.00.723.4

Great Blue Heron Survey Routes in Tennessee

Routes recording Great Blue Heron in Tennessee.
Peytonsville820231997
Signal Mtn720241984
Pawpaw720121969
Mansfield620241969
Humboldt420241977
Tiptonville320231971
Collinwood320241993
Campbellsville320171991
Jasper320241991
Oliver Spgs320211986
Jefferson Cty320111967
Allens Brdge320221990
Big Sandy220241981
Sweetlips220191989
Pond Creek220221997
Lewis Forest220241983
Petersburg220131997
Tullahoma220151983
Glen220241984
Climer220021982
Corryton Rd219951989
Pawpaw 2220232013
Indian Mound 2220232004
Moscow120221995
Brownsville120101988

Great Blue Heron Population Trend in Other States

alabamaalaskaarizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisindianaiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

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