BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 19 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Greater Prairie-Chicken In Central Mixed Grass Prairie

All regionsCentral Mixed Grass PrairieGrassland birds

Greater Prairie-Chicken in Central Mixed Grass Prairie has surged: up 329% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+329%Since 1969TrendPercent 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 →
46Routes 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 →
52YearsYears 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 →

Greater Prairie-Chicken has surged in Central Mixed Grass Prairie: up 329% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Greater Prairie-Chicken In Central Mixed Grass Prairie Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Greater Prairie-Chicken in Central Mixed Grass Prairie is projected to rise about 45% by 2029 — from 0.87 in 2024 to a central estimate of 1.3 (95% range 0.00–2.6). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±27.8%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+45%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 →
1.3Projected 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 →
0.00–2.695% 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 →
±27.8%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, Greater Prairie-Chicken in Central Mixed Grass Prairie is projected to rise about 45% by 2029 — from 0.87 in 2024 to a central estimate of 1.3 (95% range 0.00–2.6). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±27.8%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.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 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 →
20251.20.002.5
20261.20.002.6
20271.20.002.6
20281.20.002.6
20291.30.002.6

Routes In Central Mixed Grass Prairie

Routes recording Greater Prairie-Chicken in Central Mixed Grass Prairie.
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 →
BartlettNEBRASKA311972
ChambersNEBRASKA232023
Swan LakeNEBRASKA212023
SumnerNEBRASKA202024
TableNEBRASKA202017
Wheeler CoNEBRASKA192023
MinneapolisKANSAS172019
CovertKANSAS132013
BartleyNEBRASKA122022
MullenNEBRASKA122023
StrattonNEBRASKA112016
ArthurNEBRASKA112021
SargentNEBRASKA112024
Red CloudNEBRASKA102024
LibertyNEBRASKA91972
BradyNEBRASKA82015
GoveKANSAS72013
KearneyNEBRASKA72024
Liberty 2NEBRASKA72005
SusankKANSAS62009
PhillipsburgKANSAS52012
DamarKANSAS52012
Beloit 2KANSAS42015
Liberty 3NEBRASKA42018
SutherlandNEBRASKA42024

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