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Species · Nebraska · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Nebraska

All statesGame birds

Ring-necked Pheasant in Nebraska has fallen sharply: down 53% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

-53%Since 1969TrendPercent 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 →
76Routes In StateSurvey 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 Ring-necked Pheasant Trends in NebraskaNotable 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-necked Pheasant has fallen sharply in Nebraska: down 53% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Forecast in Nebraska

If the recent trend holds, Ring-necked Pheasant in Nebraska is projected to fall about 30% by 2030 — from 18 in 2025 to a central estimate of 12 (95% range 0.17–24). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±17.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-30%Change by 2030TrendPercent 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 →
12Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.17–2495% 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 →
±17.1%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-necked Pheasant in Nebraska is projected to fall about 30% by 2030 — from 18 in 2025 to a central estimate of 12 (95% range 0.17–24). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±17.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19672030
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 →
2026141.726
2027131.325
2028130.9325
2029130.5525
2030120.1724

Ring-necked Pheasant Survey Routes in Nebraska

Routes recording Ring-necked Pheasant in Nebraska.
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 →
Paxton10720161967
Winside8820031967
Hampton8020252018
Brownson7120252021
Tilden6620252019
Hay Springs6320252018
Thurston5620251967
Bartley5220251967
Sparta5020251967
Culbertson4520252018
Benkelman4120251986
Champion4120182018
Lyons3920252018
Crescent Lk3620251980
Liberty 23320072004
Madison3120252018
Wheeler Co3120251978
Surprise2920251967
Kennedy2920251976
Sumner2420251967
Stratton2420251975
Table2320251973
Johnstown2220251967
Hendley2220252018
Kenesaw2120251967

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Other States

alaskaarizonacaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawareidahoillinoisindianaiowakansasmainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamissourimontananevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-dakotatexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.