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 to other recorders tested, and were also superior to cell phone applications. Several milkweed planted areas were established, and periodic monitoring to determine survival was also included. The completed ecological data collection provides a baseline of currently existing habitat, 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.
