BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

S. Pioneer Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 77 species recorded across 27 survey years, still active.

77Species 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 →
27Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1994–2024Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota S. Pioneer

Top 40 of 77 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the S. Pioneer 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 MeadowlarkIcteridae4392024+22%1996
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae602024-17%1996
Mourning DoveColumbidae302024+278%1996
American CootRallidae252024+77%1996
Lark BuntingPasserellidae242024-26%1996
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae232024-1%1996
MallardAnatidae202023+20%1997
European StarlingSturnidae182023+200%2000
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae152024-25%1996
Horned LarkAlaudidae142024-84%1996
Eared GrebePodicipedidae142024+29%1997
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae132024-17%1996
Sharp-tailed GrousePhasianidae112024+143%1998
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae112024+24%1996
American WigeonAnatidae102013+267%2002
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae102023+900%2011
American AvocetRecurvirostridae82012n/an/a
Barn SwallowHirundinidae62024-11%1996
Short-eared OwlStrigidae62024+133%2000
House SparrowPasseridae62002+150%1999
Blue-winged TealAnatidae42024+71%2000
Western GrebePodicipedidae42021+0%2006
KilldeerCharadriidae32024-57%1996
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae32024+20%1996
Brown ThrasherMimidae32024+67%1996
Northern ShovelerAnatidae32024+67%2002
Marsh WrenTroglodytidae31995n/an/a
Burrowing OwlStrigidae32024+67%2008
GadwallAnatidae22024+133%1996
Northern PintailAnatidae22023-25%2009
American BitternArdeidae22024+0%1999
Northern HarrierAccipitridae22024-64%1996
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae22017+100%2003
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae22024-42%1996
Say's PhoebeTyrannidae22012+67%1999
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIcteridae22024+44%1996
Orchard OrioleIcteridae22011-44%1999
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae22022-71%1996
RedheadAnatidae22017-40%1997
Great Blue HeronArdeidae22021+0%1999

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