BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 10 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Short-eared Owl In Northern Rockies

All regionsNorthern RockiesGeneralists

Short-eared Owl in Northern Rockies has declined: down 43% on the route-weighted index since 1972.

-43%Since 1972
47Routes In Region
47Years

Notable Signals

No notable trend signals for Short-eared Owl in Northern Rockies. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Short-eared Owl in Northern Rockies is projected to fall about 75% by 2029 — from 0.17 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.04 (95% range 0.00–0.15). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±108.1%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-75%Change by 2029
0.04Projected 2029 index
0.00–0.1595% range
±108.1%Backtest error
19682029
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
20250.050.000.15
20260.050.000.15
20270.040.000.15
20280.040.000.15
20290.040.000.15

Routes In Northern Rockies

Routes recording Short-eared Owl in Northern Rockies.
Great DivideCOLORADO32024
Brunzell SloughMONTANA32024
Church HillMONTANA32024
Clyde ParkMONTANA32024
Patrick DrawWYOMING31974
ArmintoWYOMING32024
Crane CreekIDAHO22016
AugustaMONTANA22015
Willow CreekMONTANA21981
Wolf CreekMONTANA22017
RaynesfordMONTANA22024
Threemile WaMONTANA22009
Saleratus CrUTAH21999
FrannieWYOMING22018
MooseWYOMING21992
PathfinderWYOMING21983
Gas Hills 2WYOMING22024
YellowstoneWYOMING21988
MaybellCOLORADO12017
GrangevilleIDAHO11986
Cape HornIDAHO11998
Sawtooth CtyIDAHO12012
Sawtooth City 2IDAHO12024
KalispellMONTANA11994
St MaryMONTANA11991

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