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BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Fairbury Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 81 species recorded across 46 survey years, still active.

81Species RecordedSpecies recordedDistinct species detected on standard-protocol BBS runs here across all years on record — a measure of survey breadth, not a complete checklist.Full methodology →
46Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1976–2024Span
4Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Fairbury

Top 40 of 81 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Fairbury route.
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 →TrendPercent 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 →Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology →History
European StarlingSturnidae1752024+65%1978
Common GrackleIcteridae1592024+85%1978
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae1502024+24%1978
American RobinTurdidae882024+380%1978
Barn SwallowHirundinidae542024+429%1978
House SparrowPasseridae452024-81%1978
Mourning DoveColumbidae432024+328%1978
DickcisselCardinalidae422024+630%1978
Canada GooseAnatidae422022+4%2010
KilldeerCharadriidae342024+500%1978
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae33202418×1978
Rock PigeonColumbidae162024+588%1978
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae162024+62%1978
American CrowCorvidae152024+55%1978
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae152024+56%2008
Song SparrowPasserellidae122024-15%1978
Tree SwallowHirundinidae122024+433%2017
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae112024+277%1978
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae92024+580%1988
Wood DuckAnatidae92024+100%2000
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae82024+433%1978
Common YellowthroatParulidae82024+68%1978
Horned LarkAlaudidae72024-85%1978
American GoldfinchFringillidae72024+63%1978
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae72024+0%1978
Great Blue HeronArdeidae62024+200%1999
Northern CardinalCardinalidae52024+429%1978
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae52024+62%1978
Blue JayCorvidae52024+39%1980
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae52024+125%1990
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae42004+0%1979
MallardAnatidae42016+0%1992
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae32024+21%1978
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae32024-14%1980
House FinchFringillidae32024+240%1994
Yellow-billed CuckooCuculidae22023-69%1979
Chimney SwiftApodidae22024-17%1983
Field SparrowPasserellidae22024+257%1979
Northern MockingbirdMimidae22019+0%2004
Brown ThrasherMimidae22024+29%1978

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. A route is a sample, not a census.