BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 27 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Horned Owl In Southeastern Coastal Plain

All regionsSoutheastern Coastal PlainGeneralists

Great Horned Owl in Southeastern Coastal Plain has surged: up 497% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+497%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 →
214Routes 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 →
58YearsYears 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 →

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 Horned Owl has surged in Southeastern Coastal Plain: up 497% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Great Horned Owl In Southeastern Coastal Plain Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Horned Owl in Southeastern Coastal Plain is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.19 (95% range 0.04–0.35). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±70.9%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+5%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 →
0.19Projected 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 →
0.04–0.3595% 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 →
±70.9%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 stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.19 (95% range 0.04–0.35). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±70.9%, 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 →
20250.190.030.34
20260.190.030.34
20270.190.040.34
20280.190.040.35
20290.190.040.35

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
DolesGEORGIA31998
ShilohGEORGIA32023
MontagueNORTH-CAROLINA32021
GenoaNORTH-CAROLINA31994
NixvilleSOUTH-CAROLINA32012
SpragueALABAMA22006
NewtonALABAMA22023
SouthALABAMA22005
EscatawpaALABAMA21990
ElamvilleALABAMA22024
Rock ChapelALABAMA22019
CalebeeALABAMA22003
BlountstownFLORIDA22022
Ft GadsdenFLORIDA21990
Laurel HillFLORIDA22024
Hildreth 2FLORIDA22024
OkefenokeeGEORGIA21983

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