BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 27 · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Great Horned Owl In Southeastern Coastal Plain

All regionsSoutheastern Coastal PlainBirds of prey

Great Horned Owl in Southeastern Coastal Plain has surged: up 517% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+517%Since 1968TrendPercent 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 →
215Routes In RegionSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
59YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

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

No notable trend signals for Great Horned Owl in Southeastern Coastal Plain. See the full index history below.

Great Horned Owl In Southeastern Coastal Plain Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Horned Owl in Southeastern Coastal Plain is projected to rise about 66% by 2030 — from 0.11 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.19 (95% range 0.03–0.34). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±55.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+66%Change by 2030TrendPercent 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 →
0.19Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.03–0.3495% 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 →
±55.5%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 Horned Owl in Southeastern Coastal Plain is projected to rise about 66% by 2030 — from 0.11 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.19 (95% range 0.03–0.34). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±55.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662030
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 →
20260.180.030.34
20270.180.030.34
20280.190.030.34
20290.190.030.34
20300.190.030.34

Routes In Southeastern Coastal Plain

Routes recording Great Horned Owl in Southeastern Coastal Plain.
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 →
JarvisburgNORTH-CAROLINA61992
TazewellGEORGIA52023
MadridALABAMA42015
GeorgetownALABAMA42024
JacksonNORTH-CAROLINA42017
CongletonNORTH-CAROLINA42024
SweetlipsTENNESSEE42023
GrangeburgALABAMA32023
Dowling ParkFLORIDA32025
DolesGEORGIA31998
ShilohGEORGIA32023
OwensboroGEORGIA32025
MontagueNORTH-CAROLINA32021
GenoaNORTH-CAROLINA31994
NixvilleSOUTH-CAROLINA32012
SpragueALABAMA22006
NewtonALABAMA22023
SouthALABAMA22005
EscatawpaALABAMA21990
ElamvilleALABAMA22024
Rock ChapelALABAMA22019
CalebeeALABAMA22003
BlountstownFLORIDA22022
Ft GadsdenFLORIDA21990
Laurel HillFLORIDA22024

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.