BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Promise Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 95 species recorded across 17 survey years, still active.

95Species 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 →
17Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1971–2015Span
8Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota Promise

Top 40 of 95 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Promise 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
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae1542015+151%1973
Barn SwallowHirundinidae1272015+89%1973
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae1242015-68%1973
Common GrackleIcteridae1012015+128%1973
Mourning DoveColumbidae782015-65%1973
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae612015+17%1973
MallardAnatidae532015+850%1974
Lark BuntingPasserellidae532015+145%1973
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae492015-90%1973
Field SparrowPasserellidae472015-41%1973
Western KingbirdTyrannidae46201511×1986
Tree SwallowHirundinidae45201512×2009
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae44201515×2010
KilldeerCharadriidae432015+28%1973
BobolinkIcteridae362015+300%1973
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae36201513×1986
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae352015+61%1973
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae342015-15%1973
Horned LarkAlaudidae292015+21%1973
DickcisselCardinalidae292015-83%1973
Yellow WarblerParulidae222015+500%1973
Common YellowthroatParulidae212015-47%1973
Lark SparrowPasserellidae192015-19%1973
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae192014-55%1973
American RobinTurdidae192015+656%1987
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae172015-16%1973
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae162011-40%1973
American White PelicanPelecanidae141973n/an/a
Blue-winged TealAnatidae122015+367%1974
Bank SwallowHirundinidae112015+155%1973
Say's PhoebeTyrannidae72015+267%2012
Least FlycatcherTyrannidae72012+250%1999
Rock PigeonColumbidae72015-13%2000
American GoldfinchFringillidae62015+124%1973
Short-eared OwlStrigidae62000n/an/a
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae52012+0%1974
Burrowing OwlStrigidae52014+300%1987
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae52012+250%1987
Blue JayCorvidae42013+18%1973
Brown ThrasherMimidae42014-53%1973

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