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

Virginia Rail In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

All regionsSouthern Rockies / Colorado PlateauWetland birds

Virginia Rail in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau has collapsed: down 77% on the route-weighted index since 1990.

-77%Since 1990TrendPercent 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 →
17Routes 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 →
23YearsYears 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 declinecomputed 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 →

Virginia Rail has collapsed in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau: down 76% on the route-weighted index since 1990.

Virginia Rail In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Virginia Rail in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.06). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±289.4%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange 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 →
0.00Projected 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 →
0.00–0.0695% 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 →
±289.4%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, Virginia Rail in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.06). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±289.4%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19762029
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 →
20250.000.000.06
20260.000.000.06
20270.000.000.06
20280.000.000.06
20290.000.000.06

Routes In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

Routes recording Virginia Rail 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 →
MoffatCOLORADO22023
FruitaCOLORADO22002
DoloresCOLORADO11976
FalfaCOLORADO12024
Wray GulchCOLORADO12002
DoylevilleCOLORADO12021
GuffeyCOLORADO12007
PaoniaCOLORADO12005
CokedaleCOLORADO12023
Ojo SarcoNEW-MEXICO12007
Angel FireNEW-MEXICO11998
VallecitosNEW-MEXICO12023
Angel Fire 2NEW-MEXICO12015
HanksvilleUTAH12002
HatchUTAH12004
BicknellUTAH12005
AltonUTAH11997

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