BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 37 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Least Bittern In Gulf Coastal Prairie

All regionsGulf Coastal PrairieWetland birds

Least Bittern in Gulf Coastal Prairie has surged: up 276% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

+276%Since 1970
27Routes In Region
52Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Least Bittern has surged in Gulf Coastal Prairie: up 276% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Least Bittern in Gulf Coastal Prairie is projected to fall about 40% by 2029 — from 2.0 in 2024 to a central estimate of 1.2 (95% range 0.41–1.9). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±47.3%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-40%Change by 2029
1.2Projected 2029 index
0.41–1.995% range
±47.3%Backtest error
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 index95% low95% high
20251.10.351.9
20261.10.361.9
20271.10.381.9
20281.20.391.9
20291.20.411.9

Routes In Gulf Coastal Prairie

Routes recording Least Bittern in Gulf Coastal Prairie.
Forked IslandLOUISIANA322024
Forked Island 2LOUISIANA192011
Ltl ChenierLOUISIANA72024
Sabine Nwr 2LOUISIANA52017
KaplanLOUISIANA42022
Sabine NwrLOUISIANA42008
CreoleLOUISIANA31980
Ltl Chenier 2LOUISIANA32011
EstherLOUISIANA22023
Grand IsleLOUISIANA22019
L. Atascosa NwrTEXAS22023
Gran ChenierLOUISIANA11982
HackberryLOUISIANA12016
GlencoeLOUISIANA12012
MauriceLOUISIANA12010
Lag AtascosaTEXAS11994
IndianolaTEXAS12023
WinnieTEXAS12018
StowellTEXAS12010
DanburyTEXAS11989
KatyTEXAS12013
Rock IslandTEXAS12024
ChinquapinTEXAS12024
Oyster LakeTEXAS12019
Port AcresTEXAS12008

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