BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 13 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Northern Rough-winged Swallow In Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain

All regionsLower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence PlainAerial insectivores

Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain has declined: down 26% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-26%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 →
80Routes 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 Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain. See the full index history below.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow In Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain is projected to fall about 11% by 2029 — from 0.81 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.72 (95% range 0.20–1.2). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±50%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-11%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 →
0.72Projected 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 →
0.20–1.295% 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 →
±50%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, Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain is projected to fall about 11% by 2029 — from 0.81 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.72 (95% range 0.20–1.2). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±50%, with 100% 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 →
20250.720.201.2
20260.720.201.2
20270.720.201.2
20280.720.201.2
20290.720.201.2

Routes In Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain

Routes recording Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain.
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 →
ShaftsburyVERMONT252004
Cherry HillNEW-YORK101993
HamburgNEW-YORK82024
Grand IsleVERMONT82010
WaylandOHIO62015
LucerneOHIO62024
BranchportNEW-YORK52024
ChurchvilleNEW-YORK52024
ColchesterVERMONT52022
CatskillsNEW-YORK42000
West BangorNEW-YORK41999
MiddlefieldOHIO42013
AusterlitzNEW-YORK32024
RomulusNEW-YORK31992
Alder CreekNEW-YORK32004
ArgyleNEW-YORK32006
PittsfieldOHIO32022
GarrettsvileOHIO31990
StrongsvilleOHIO31990
Sugar GrovePENNSYLVANIA32019
HighlandNEW-YORK22022
W ShokanNEW-YORK21974
GhentNEW-YORK22003
Ballston LkNEW-YORK21970
DuanesburgNEW-YORK21999

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