The Western Meadowlark is well monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which provides excellent coverage of the species' breeding population in Canada. Results from the BBS indicate that the population in Canada experienced a fairly consistent decrease until the late 1990s, when it stabilized at these lower levels. In Canada, the highest density of Western Meadowlarks is found in the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region (BCR) of the southern Prairie provinces. The species has experienced a 48% loss in abundance in this BCR since 1970. Larger declines are seen in the Boreal Taiga Plains and Great Basin BCRs. All BCRs in which the species occurs and for which there are reasonably reliable BBS results are displayed below. The Western Meadowlark is below the lowest acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see BBS Canada graph below).
Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis
