Species · BCR 11 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Least Bittern In Prairie Potholes

Least Bittern in Prairie Potholes has surged: up 135% on the route-weighted index since 2004.

+135%Since 2004
18Routes In Region
18Years

Notable Signals

No notable trend signals for Least Bittern in Prairie Potholes. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Least Bittern in Prairie Potholes is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.03 (95% range 0.00–0.06). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±57.8%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2029
0.03Projected 2029 index
0.000.0695% range
±57.8%Backtest error
19822029
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
20250.030.000.06
20260.030.000.06
20270.030.000.06
20280.030.000.06
20290.030.000.06

Routes In Prairie Potholes

Routes recording Least Bittern in Prairie Potholes.
FairmontMINNESOTA32022
Big StoneMINNESOTA22009
ScrantonIOWA12018
CourtlandMINNESOTA12016
DawsonMINNESOTA12004
AppletonMINNESOTA11982
FormanNORTH-DAKOTA12006
EdgeleyNORTH-DAKOTA12023
Lake GeorgeNORTH-DAKOTA12010
CooperstownNORTH-DAKOTA12006
WimbledonNORTH-DAKOTA12015
Horsehead LkNORTH-DAKOTA12019
BuchananNORTH-DAKOTA12022
DenbighNORTH-DAKOTA12023
MontpelierNORTH-DAKOTA12024
TrippSOUTH-DAKOTA11986
WilmotSOUTH-DAKOTA12008
VeblenSOUTH-DAKOTA12022

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