The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is currently the most reliable data source for monitoring the long-term population of Pied-billed Grebe in Canada. More appropriate for this vocal and easily-recognized species than for other, more secretive marsh birds, BBS results show a moderate increase in abundance relative to 1970. The bulk of the increase appears to have occurred since the mid-2000s. There is some regional variation in the results, with strong increases in the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region (BCR), the area with highest abundance in Canada, and the Atlantic Northern Forest BCR, and little change or even decreases in other BCRs (all BCRs for which there are reasonably reliable BBS results in Canada are shown below). At the continental level, the Pied-billed Grebe population has shown little change in abundance over the same time period. Providing corroboration for BBS results in the BCRs covered by these surveys, the Great Lakes and Quebec Marsh Monitoring Programs show little overall change in those regional populations. The Pied-billed Grebe is currently at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see Canada graph below).
Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis
Additional information on: Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program
Additional information on: Quebec Marsh Monitoring Program
