Sampling Grassland habitats in Urban, Suburban and Rural areas of Central Texas using a modified GMIT protocol and Data Recorder Protocol provided a baseline of operations and tested various techniques and equipment prior to large-scale implementation. This 6-month effort combined the Urban Monarch project with testing field data collections techniques with those used by several partners (TPWD protocol) interested in determining best practices, tools and methodologies for evaluating and monitoring habitat for monarchs, other pollinators and grassland birds. Tablet data recorders were far superior that other recorders tested, and also were superior to cell phone applications. Several milk weed planted areas were established and periodic monitoring to determine survival were also included. The ecological data collection completed provides a baseline of habitat currently existing, floral species identified, and other characteristics. Five counties around Austin were the focal area of the study (Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, Travis, and Williamson Counties). Social science data collected defined opportunities for future conservation in this geography.
