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

Sandhill Crane In Prairie Potholes

All regionsPrairie PotholesWetland birds

Sandhill Crane in Prairie Potholes has fallen sharply: down 51% on the route-weighted index since 1978.

-51%Since 1978
25Routes In Region
48Years

Notable Signals

long arc declinecomputed index

Sandhill Crane has fallen sharply in Prairie Potholes: down 51% on the route-weighted index since 1978.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Sandhill Crane in Prairie Potholes is projected to rise about 275% by 2029 — from 0.10 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.37 (95% range 0.00–1.3). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±278.7%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+275%Change by 2029
0.37Projected 2029 index
0.00–1.395% range
±278.7%Backtest error
19762029
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
20250.420.001.4
20260.410.001.4
20270.390.001.3
20280.380.001.3
20290.370.001.3

Routes In Prairie Potholes

Routes recording Sandhill Crane in Prairie Potholes.
Lake BronsonMINNESOTA162011
GryglaMINNESOTA112017
RollaNORTH-DAKOTA112003
OkleeMINNESOTA82021
BeltramiMINNESOTA82023
ErieMINNESOTA72017
BadgerMINNESOTA72018
HartlandMINNESOTA42011
WylieMINNESOTA32024
WilmotSOUTH-DAKOTA32023
CourtlandMINNESOTA22024
GluekMINNESOTA22015
GlyndonMINNESOTA22022
Great FallsMONTANA22013
Ester LakeMONTANA22022
KemptonNORTH-DAKOTA22015
TitonkaIOWA12021
ClevelandMONTANA12024
ChinookMONTANA12019
SacoMONTANA12018
GlentanaMONTANA12024
EmeradoNORTH-DAKOTA12016
Horsehead LkNORTH-DAKOTA11990
NilesNORTH-DAKOTA11995
DenbighNORTH-DAKOTA12022

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