BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 30 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Laughing Gull In New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

All regionsNew England / Mid-Atlantic CoastWetland birds

Laughing Gull in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast has held roughly steady: up 4% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+4%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 →
85Routes 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 →

No notable trend signals for Laughing Gull in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast. See the full index history below.

Laughing Gull In New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Laughing Gull in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast is projected to rise about 184% by 2029 — from 12 in 2024 to a central estimate of 35 (95% range 7.4–63). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±163.4%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+184%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 →
35Projected 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 →
7.4–6395% 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 →
±163.4%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, Laughing Gull in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast is projected to rise about 184% by 2029 — from 12 in 2024 to a central estimate of 35 (95% range 7.4–63). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±163.4%, with 60% 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 →
2025346.362
2026346.662
2027356.962
2028357.262
2029357.463

Routes In New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

Routes recording Laughing Gull in New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast.
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 →
Del HavenNEW-JERSEY15291991
VillasNEW-JERSEY8761981
Cape May ChNEW-JERSEY5482013
Snow HillMARYLAND3531976
Ocean CityNEW-JERSEY3472024
Chincoteag WVIRGINIA3442024
Bethany BchDELAWARE3091990
SinepuxentMARYLAND1501978
GeorgetownDELAWARE1252022
Cape CharlesVIRGINIA1152018
AlbionNEW-JERSEY602021
Colonial PkyVIRGINIA601998
CokesburyMARYLAND562024
IndiantownMARYLAND502014
Spraguetown 2NEW-JERSEY382007
PepperboxDELAWARE322016
ClarksvilleNEW-JERSEY291991
MiltonDELAWARE282016
Furnace TownMARYLAND262024
Toms RiverNEW-JERSEY252024
HarringtonDELAWARE242024
Severna ParkMARYLAND241997
Holleyville 2DELAWARE212024
QuinbyVIRGINIA202024
Six PointsNEW-JERSEY182024

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