BirdAnalyst
Species · Indiana · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Turkey Vulture Population Trend in Indiana

All statesBirds of prey

Turkey Vulture in Indiana has surged: up 16× on the route-weighted index since 1968.

16×Since 1968TrendPercent 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 →
66Routes In StateSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
59YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Turkey Vulture Trends in IndianaNotable 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 →

Turkey Vulture has surged in Indiana: up 16× on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Turkey Vulture Population Forecast in Indiana

If the recent trend holds, Turkey Vulture in Indiana is projected to fall about 15% by 2030 — from 9.5 in 2025 to a central estimate of 8.0 (95% range 5.5–11). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±21.5%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-15%Change by 2030TrendPercent 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 →
8.0Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
5.5–1195% 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 →
±21.5%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, Turkey Vulture in Indiana is projected to fall about 15% by 2030 — from 9.5 in 2025 to a central estimate of 8.0 (95% range 5.5–11). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±21.5%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662030
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 →
20267.55.010.0
20277.65.110
20287.85.310
20297.95.410
20308.05.511

Turkey Vulture Survey Routes in Indiana

Routes recording Turkey Vulture in Indiana.
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 →
Sexton4820241981
Indian Spgs4520251982
Witts Station3820252000
W Lafayette3320252002
New Phila3320251984
Brookville3220251971
Jamestown2120251986
Galveston2020251981
Wabash2020251996
Middletown1920251999
Frankfort1920251999
Newberry1920252000
Ellis1820241968
Maplewood1820212000
Friendswood1820241986
Knox1720251981
Rensselaer1720212000
Cuba1520252017
Clear Spring1420251981
Spencer1320241967
Wallace1320241999
Crown Point1220221999
Decatur1220251999
Anderson1220252001
Packertown 21120252005

Turkey Vulture Population Trend in Other States

alabamaarizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.