BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Volunteer Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 102 species recorded across 42 survey years, still active.

102Species 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 →
42Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1967–2019Span
9Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota Volunteer

Top 40 of 102 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Volunteer 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 MeadowlarkIcteridae2022019-69%1969
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae1022019-19%1969
Common GrackleIcteridae1012019+345%1969
Mourning DoveColumbidae782019-74%1969
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae59201911×1969
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae232019+182%1969
DickcisselCardinalidae182019-67%1969
Lark BuntingPasserellidae172019-97%1969
KilldeerCharadriidae162019-47%1969
American RobinTurdidae152019+267%1969
American AvocetRecurvirostridae141993+367%1980
MallardAnatidae112019-32%1969
Barn SwallowHirundinidae102019-44%1969
Horned LarkAlaudidae92019-91%1969
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae82019-85%1969
Song SparrowPasserellidae82012+167%1968
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae72019+550%1975
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae72019-38%1969
European StarlingSturnidae62019+8%1969
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae62012+200%2011
SoraRallidae52015+200%1987
Lark SparrowPasserellidae52015+250%1969
Western KingbirdTyrannidae52019+125%1981
Tree SwallowHirundinidae52017+60%2009
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae42019+64%1969
GadwallAnatidae42012+75%1970
Northern ShovelerAnatidae41995+60%1983
Canada GooseAnatidae42013n/an/a
American CootRallidae32019+100%1969
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae32019-43%1969
Yellow WarblerParulidae32019-38%1969
Sharp-tailed GrousePhasianidae32013-50%1970
Rock PigeonColumbidae32019-46%1980
American GoldfinchFringillidae32015+50%1988
Great Blue HeronArdeidae32019+150%1985
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae22017-8%1969
Black-billed MagpieCorvidae21967n/an/a
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae22003-79%1970
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae22019-44%1969
House SparrowPasseridae22019-65%1969

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