BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 32 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Ring-billed Gull In Coastal California

All regionsCoastal CaliforniaWetland birds

Ring-billed Gull in Coastal California has collapsed: down 95% on the route-weighted index since 1974.

-95%Since 1974TrendPercent 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 →
16Routes 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 →
34YearsYears 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 →

long arc declinecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →

Ring-billed Gull has collapsed in Coastal California: down 94% on the route-weighted index since 1974.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Ring-billed Gull in Coastal California is projected to fall about 100% by 2022 — from 0.06 in 2017 to a central estimate of 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.93). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±468.7%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-100%Change by 2022TrendPercent 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 →
0.00Projected 2022 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.9395% 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 →
±468.7%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, Ring-billed Gull in Coastal California is projected to fall about 100% by 2022 — from 0.06 in 2017 to a central estimate of 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.93). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±468.7%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19722022
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 →
20180.000.000.93
20190.000.000.93
20200.000.000.93
20210.000.000.93
20220.000.000.93

Routes In Coastal California

Routes recording Ring-billed Gull in Coastal California.
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 →
LivermoreCALIFORNIA501991
PowayCALIFORNIA261980
FairfaxCALIFORNIA151989
GlennCALIFORNIA72005
CollegevilleCALIFORNIA51979
RiovistaCALIFORNIA32017
HughsonCALIFORNIA32008
OrlandCALIFORNIA22012
San YsidroCALIFORNIA11991
Morro BayCALIFORNIA11992
Point ReyesCALIFORNIA11993
AuburnCALIFORNIA11973
El ToroCALIFORNIA11974
TranquillityCALIFORNIA11985
CoyoteCALIFORNIA11994
Ora LomaCALIFORNIA11974

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