BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 11

Ester Lake Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 94 species recorded across 10 survey years, still active.

94Species 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 →
10Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
2015–2025Span
1Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Ester Lake

Top 40 of 94 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Ester Lake 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
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae1982025+16%2017
Lark BuntingPasserellidae1792025+47%2017
Horned LarkAlaudidae1032025+91%2017
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae632025+8%2017
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae562025+232%2017
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae472025+24%2017
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae362025-43%2017
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae162025+21%2017
Rock PigeonColumbidae152025+0%2018
Marbled GodwitScolopacidae142025-60%2017
MallardAnatidae132025-56%2017
American White PelicanPelecanidae102024+22%2017
Canada GooseAnatidae102024+983%2017
Mourning DoveColumbidae92025+62%2017
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae92025+110%2017
European StarlingSturnidae92025+36%2017
American WigeonAnatidae82025-29%2017
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae82024+100%2019
Wilson's PhalaropeScolopacidae72024-60%2017
California GullLaridae62024+14%2016
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae62025-25%2017
Barn SwallowHirundinidae62025-7%2017
CanvasbackAnatidae62023-59%2017
GadwallAnatidae42025+10%2017
Blue-winged TealAnatidae42024-68%2017
WilletScolopacidae42025-49%2017
Northern HarrierAccipitridae42024-33%2017
BobolinkIcteridae42025-54%2017
Baird's SparrowPasserellidae42025+9%2017
American CootRallidae42024-64%2018
Lesser ScaupAnatidae32024-39%2017
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae32025-65%2017
Common TernLaridae32016n/an/a
Ring-billed GullLaridae32025-43%2019
Northern ShovelerAnatidae22024-32%2017
Black-crowned Night HeronArdeidae22019+0%2015
Sandhill CraneGruidae22022-20%2017
SoraRallidae22024+57%2017
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae22025-65%2017
KilldeerCharadriidae22025-79%2017

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. A route is a sample, not a census.