BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 11

Hay Lake Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 89 species recorded across 30 survey years, still active.

89Species 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 →
30Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1988–2025Span
4Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Hay Lake

Top 40 of 89 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Hay 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
Horned LarkAlaudidae662025-69%1990
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae562025+230%1990
American White PelicanPelecanidae462017+53%2015
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae372025+60%1990
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae302025+9%1990
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae222025+8%1990
Northern ShovelerAnatidae172019+422%1991
Franklin's GullLaridae172017+533%2004
American WigeonAnatidae152019-34%1993
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae142025-23%1990
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIcteridae132019+253%1993
Northern PintailAnatidae122019+54%1991
House SparrowPasseridae112025-49%1990
American CootRallidae102018+0%1994
European StarlingSturnidae92025-33%1990
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae92025-9%1990
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae92025+41%1991
Rock PigeonColumbidae82025+47%1990
Blue-winged TealAnatidae82019+38%1993
Green-winged TealAnatidae62019-9%1993
Black-billed MagpieCorvidae62025+188%2008
KilldeerCharadriidae52025-11%1990
Mourning DoveColumbidae52025+400%1990
Marbled GodwitScolopacidae52017+29%1994
Canada GooseAnatidae52017-8%1995
Ferruginous HawkAccipitridae42025+117%1991
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae32024+0%1990
American CrowCorvidae32024-63%1990
Thick-billed LongspurCalcariidae32025-83%1990
Lark BuntingPasserellidae32004-94%1989
American AvocetRecurvirostridae32019-41%1993
Gray PartridgePhasianidae32025-46%2001
American RobinTurdidae32025+17%1993
RedheadAnatidae32003+50%1994
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae22025+11%1992
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae22025-44%1990
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae22025-29%1990
MallardAnatidae22025-56%1991
GadwallAnatidae22021+96%1991
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae22019+86%1994

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