BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 12 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Sandhill Crane In Boreal Hardwood Transition

All regionsBoreal Hardwood TransitionWetland birds

Sandhill Crane in Boreal Hardwood Transition has surged: up 43× on the route-weighted index since 1969.

43×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 →
105Routes 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 →
57YearsYears 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 increasecomputed 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 →

Sandhill Crane has surged in Boreal Hardwood Transition: up 43× on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Sandhill Crane In Boreal Hardwood Transition Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Sandhill Crane in Boreal Hardwood Transition is projected to rise about 78% by 2029 — from 2.3 in 2024 to a central estimate of 4.1 (95% range 3.0–5.1). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±35.7%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+78%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 →
4.1Projected 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 →
3.0–5.195% 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 →
±35.7%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, Sandhill Crane in Boreal Hardwood Transition is projected to rise about 78% by 2029 — from 2.3 in 2024 to a central estimate of 4.1 (95% range 3.0–5.1). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±35.7%, with 60% 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 →
20253.82.74.9
20263.92.84.9
20273.92.85.0
20284.02.95.1
20294.13.05.1

Routes In Boreal Hardwood Transition

Routes recording Sandhill Crane in Boreal Hardwood Transition.
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 →
PickfordMICHIGAN222024
GilmanWISCONSIN202024
GreenbushMINNESOTA172024
LudeMINNESOTA152023
RiggsvilleMICHIGAN92019
WarroadMINNESOTA92024
CreightonMICHIGAN82023
RacoMICHIGAN82024
EnsignMICHIGAN82010
MellenWISCONSIN82023
HermanMICHIGAN72022
CathroMICHIGAN72016
Walloon Lake 2MICHIGAN72024
Cluster LakesMICHIGAN62010
BootjackMICHIGAN52023
Ned LakeMICHIGAN52024
Crystal FlsMICHIGAN52024
Betchler LksMICHIGAN52024
Seney NwrMICHIGAN52024
Wigwam BayMINNESOTA52023
Little ForkMINNESOTA52023
IrmaWISCONSIN52023
Washington IWISCONSIN52023
Pleasant Valley 2MICHIGAN42013
Imp LakeMICHIGAN42018

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