BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 17 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Short-eared Owl In Badlands and Prairies

All regionsBadlands and PrairiesGeneralists

Short-eared Owl in Badlands and Prairies has increased: up 39% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+39%Since 1969
82Routes In Region
55Years

Notable Signals

No notable trend signals for Short-eared Owl in Badlands and Prairies. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Short-eared Owl in Badlands and Prairies is projected to fall about 77% by 2029 — from 1.1 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.26 (95% range 0.00–1.1). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±184.9%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-77%Change by 2029
0.26Projected 2029 index
0.00–1.195% range
±184.9%Backtest error
19672029
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
20250.270.001.1
20260.270.001.1
20270.260.001.1
20280.260.001.1
20290.260.001.1

Routes In Badlands and Prairies

Routes recording Short-eared Owl in Badlands and Prairies.
ShawmutMONTANA152024
IndianSOUTH-DAKOTA102024
RoundupMONTANA72019
OwankaSOUTH-DAKOTA71983
Wheat BasinMONTANA62024
PromiseSOUTH-DAKOTA62000
S. PioneerSOUTH-DAKOTA62024
DaytonWYOMING62024
BrusettMONTANA52024
Two DotMONTANA52024
Oglala Nat. Grass.NEBRASKA52015
ChamberlainSOUTH-DAKOTA51978
SchoonoverWYOMING52024
Cedar CreekNORTH-DAKOTA42008
RavenWYOMING42024
LeroyMONTANA31994
RoyMONTANA32024
CircleMONTANA32015
Flatwillow 2MONTANA32014
Jordan SouthMONTANA32024
Coleman CouleeMONTANA32019
DickinsonNORTH-DAKOTA32010
GolvaNORTH-DAKOTA32011
White RiverSOUTH-DAKOTA31996
SussexWYOMING32012

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