BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 11 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Willet In Prairie Potholes

All regionsPrairie PotholesShorebirds

Willet in Prairie Potholes has surged: up 112% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+112%Since 1969
67Routes In Region
57Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Willet has surged in Prairie Potholes: up 112% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Willet in Prairie Potholes is projected to rise about 42% by 2029 — from 1.1 in 2024 to a central estimate of 1.6 (95% range 0.96–2.2). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±24.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+42%Change by 2029
1.6Projected 2029 index
0.96–2.295% range
±24.5%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
20251.50.922.2
20261.50.932.2
20271.60.942.2
20281.60.952.2
20291.60.962.2

Routes In Prairie Potholes

Routes recording Willet in Prairie Potholes.
Wild RoseNORTH-DAKOTA142024
WestbyMONTANA82024
VirgelleMONTANA62024
Ester LakeMONTANA62024
DanzigNORTH-DAKOTA62014
ForbesSOUTH-DAKOTA62009
ChinookMONTANA52024
WebsterNORTH-DAKOTA52024
NilesNORTH-DAKOTA52024
ParshallNORTH-DAKOTA52013
ClevelandMONTANA42023
Great FallsMONTANA42023
LoraineNORTH-DAKOTA42019
HarlemMONTANA32021
MaltaMONTANA32023
Horsehead LkNORTH-DAKOTA32024
BuchananNORTH-DAKOTA32024
ReganNORTH-DAKOTA32022
CarpioNORTH-DAKOTA32023
DenbighNORTH-DAKOTA32023
MontpelierNORTH-DAKOTA32024
Long LakeSOUTH-DAKOTA32019
SunburstMONTANA22005
OswegoMONTANA22024
RedstoneMONTANA22024

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