BirdAnalyst
Species · Indiana · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Great Horned Owl Population Trend in Indiana

All statesBirds of prey

Great Horned Owl in Indiana has fallen sharply: down 54% on the route-weighted index since 1973.

-54%Since 1973TrendPercent 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 →
41Routes 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 →
49YearsYears 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 Horned Owl Trends in IndianaNotable 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 declinecomputed 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 fallen sharply in Indiana: down 54% on the route-weighted index since 1973.

Great Horned Owl Population Forecast in Indiana

If the recent trend holds, Great Horned Owl in Indiana is projected to stay roughly flat through 2030, near 0.06 (95% range 0.00–0.27). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±279.4%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange 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 →
0.06Projected 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 →
0.00–0.2795% 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 →
±279.4%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 Indiana is projected to stay roughly flat through 2030, near 0.06 (95% range 0.00–0.27). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±279.4%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19672030
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 →
20260.070.000.28
20270.070.000.28
20280.070.000.28
20290.070.000.27
20300.060.000.27

Great Horned Owl Survey Routes in Indiana

Routes recording Great Horned Owl in Indiana.
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 →
Middletown420211991
Millersburg320141986
New Phila319891982
Hoosier220021993
Packertown219921973
W Lafayette220221981
Thorntown220161984
Indian Spgs220161985
Scottsburg219991983
Evansville220221974
Newberry220172000
Hebron120101984
Knox120252008
Kewanna120001983
Middlebury120162001
Ellis119841984
Fowler120111977
Monticello119991985
Galveston119991982
Kankakee Sands120012001
Berne120061967
Pimento119961994
Brazil119881988
Belmont120031987
Friendswood120062006

Great Horned Owl Population Trend in Other States

alabamaalaskaarizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

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