Species · North Carolina · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Gull-billed Tern Population Trend in North Carolina

Gull-billed Tern in North Carolina has collapsed: down 90% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-90%Since 1968
5Routes In State
25Years

Notable Gull-billed Tern Trends in North Carolina

long arc declinecomputed index

Gull-billed Tern has collapsed in North Carolina: down 90% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Gull-billed Tern Population Forecast in North Carolina

If the recent trend holds, Gull-billed Tern in North Carolina is projected to stay roughly flat through 2022, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.37). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±810.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2022
0.00Projected 2022 index
0.000.3795% range
±810.1%Backtest error
19662022
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20180.000.000.37
20190.000.000.37
20200.000.000.37
20210.000.000.37
20220.000.000.37

Gull-billed Tern Survey Routes in North Carolina

Routes recording Gull-billed Tern in North Carolina.
Mashoes219741972
Ernul220032003
Merrimon120161968
Myrtle Grove120171966
Grandy119711971

Gull-billed Tern Population Trend in Other States

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