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

Great Egret Population Trend in Mississippi

All statesWetland birds

Great Egret in Mississippi has surged: up 850% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

+850%Since 1970TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
61Routes In StateSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
55YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Great Egret Trends in MississippiNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →

long arc increasecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →

Great Egret has surged in Mississippi: up 850% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Great Egret Population Forecast in Mississippi

If the recent trend holds, Great Egret in Mississippi is projected to rise about 16% by 2029 — from 7.5 in 2024 to a central estimate of 8.8 (95% range 4.5–13). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±50.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+16%Change by 2029TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
8.8Projected 2029 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
4.5–1395% range95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
±50.5%Backtest errorBacktest errorTypical error when we hold out the most recent years, forecast them, and compare to what actually happened. Lower means a more trustworthy projection.Full methodology →
If the recent trend holds, Great Egret in Mississippi is projected to rise about 16% by 2029 — from 7.5 in 2024 to a central estimate of 8.8 (95% range 4.5–13). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±50.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.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 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →95% low95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →95% high95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
20258.23.912
20268.34.013
20278.54.213
20288.64.313
20298.84.513

Great Egret Survey Routes in Mississippi

Routes recording Great Egret in Mississippi.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →
Macon3820241966
Corinth3320242011
Panther Swamp Nwr3320182016
Eagle Lake2920242012
Tchula 22719941977
Isola2220221972
Trace Hinds2120222014
Tallahatchie1920241996
Necaise1220161984
Tchula1119711970
Trace South1120102007
Lake Mary1019901974
Tchula 3820241995
Tippo720241996
Grenada Lake720192017
Delta N.F.620211995
Lake520232006
Cybur520191978
Aberdeen520242008
Duffee520081997
Commerce419931993
Monticello420172017
Water Valley420182015
Trace Madison420192015
Winterville320112009

Great Egret Population Trend in Other States

alabamaarizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisindianaiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamissourimontananebraskanevadanew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

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