BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 19 · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Greater Prairie-Chicken In Central Mixed Grass Prairie

All regionsCentral Mixed Grass PrairieGame birds

Greater Prairie-Chicken in Central Mixed Grass Prairie has surged: up 413% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+413%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 →
48Routes 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 →
53YearsYears 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 413% 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 fall about 14% by 2030 — from 1.5 in 2025 to a central estimate of 1.3 (95% range 0.00–2.6). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±27.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-14%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 →
1.3Projected 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 →
0.00–2.695% 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 →
±27.5%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, Greater Prairie-Chicken in Central Mixed Grass Prairie is projected to fall about 14% by 2030 — from 1.5 in 2025 to a central estimate of 1.3 (95% range 0.00–2.6). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±27.5%, 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 →
20261.20.002.6
20271.30.002.6
20281.30.002.6
20291.30.002.6
20301.30.002.6

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 →
SumnerNEBRASKA412025
BartlettNEBRASKA311972
Swan LakeNEBRASKA242025
ChambersNEBRASKA232023
MinneapolisKANSAS172019
Wheeler CoNEBRASKA162025
CovertKANSAS132013
BartleyNEBRASKA122022
MullenNEBRASKA122023
StrattonNEBRASKA112016
Red CloudNEBRASKA102024
LibertyNEBRASKA91972
Berwyn 2NEBRASKA92025
BradyNEBRASKA82015
GoveKANSAS72013
KearneyNEBRASKA72024
Liberty 2NEBRASKA72005
SusankKANSAS62009
DamarKANSAS52012
Beloit 2KANSAS42015
Crescent LkNEBRASKA42025
SolomonKANSAS32010
RexfordKANSAS32006
Piester LakeNEBRASKA32021
GordonNEBRASKA32016

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