BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 16 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Sandhill Crane In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

All regionsSouthern Rockies / Colorado PlateauWetland birds

Sandhill Crane in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau has surged: up 14× on the route-weighted index since 1992.

14×Since 1992TrendPercent 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 →
41Routes 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 →
33YearsYears 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 Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau: up 14× on the route-weighted index since 1992.

Sandhill Crane In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Sandhill Crane in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to rise about 50% by 2029 — from 0.40 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.59 (95% range 0.40–0.79). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±22%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+50%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 →
0.59Projected 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 →
0.40–0.7995% 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 →
±22%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 Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to rise about 50% by 2029 — from 0.40 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.59 (95% range 0.40–0.79). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±22%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19872029
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 →
20250.530.340.72
20260.550.350.74
20270.560.370.76
20280.580.380.77
20290.590.400.79

Routes In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

Routes recording Sandhill Crane in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau.
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 →
KamasUTAH242024
JensenUTAH82024
Lost LakeCOLORADO42024
Steamboat L.COLORADO42024
ClevelandUTAH42021
BufordCOLORADO32024
Mcphee Res.COLORADO32024
Wellington 2UTAH32008
YampaCOLORADO22023
MoffatCOLORADO22000
CastletonCOLORADO22024
DoylevilleCOLORADO22022
Dunckley PasCOLORADO22023
Ragged Mtn.COLORADO22016
Yellowjacket PassCOLORADO22023
BeckUTAH21987
Grizzly RdgeUTAH22024
BoulderUTAH22021
Skyline DrivUTAH22016
Uintah NfUTAH21991
SoapstoneUTAH22022
FayetteUTAH22019
Castle DaleUTAH22019
Beck 2UTAH22003
HannaUTAH22023

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