BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Lightning Cr Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 78 species recorded across 30 survey years, still active.

78Species 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 →
1992–2022Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota Lightning Cr

Top 40 of 78 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Lightning Cr 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
American RobinTurdidae422022-30%1994
Red CrossbillFringillidae372022+108%1994
Red-headed WoodpeckerPicidae302022+650%2007
Mourning DoveColumbidae262022+118%1994
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae25202218×2001
Western TanagerCardinalidae232022+657%1994
Red-breasted NuthatchSittidae202022-37%1994
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae182022+550%1994
Mountain BluebirdTurdidae172022+160%1994
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae112022+100%1995
Plumbeous VireoVireonidae102022-20%1994
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae92022-52%1996
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae82022+108%1995
Warbling VireoVireonidae82022+108%1994
White-breasted NuthatchSittidae82022+100%1994
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae81998+225%1996
Western Wood-PeweeTyrannidae72022+400%1994
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae72022-86%1994
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae62022+244%1996
Song SparrowPasserellidae61998-33%1992
Violet-green SwallowHirundinidae62022-12%1995
Spotted TowheePasserellidae62022+375%2003
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae52022-39%1994
American CrowCorvidae52022-18%1994
OvenbirdParulidae52022-76%1994
Rock PigeonColumbidae52022+117%1999
Pine SiskinFringillidae42008-67%1995
Townsend's SolitaireTurdidae42022+367%1994
American KestrelFalconidae42022+233%2005
Bank SwallowHirundinidae41993n/an/a
White-throated SwiftApodidae42022+18%1999
Dusky FlycatcherTyrannidae42022-75%2001
Golden-crowned KingletRegulidae32002+0%1992
Canada GooseAnatidae32002+50%1997
Lewis's WoodpeckerPicidae32021+0%2013
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae22021-67%1997
Tree SwallowHirundinidae22021-83%1994
Black-capped ChickadeeParidae22022-81%1994
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae22022+50%1995
Common YellowthroatParulidae22002+125%1997

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