Heart of

The City Nature Challenge is a global, city-scale urban biodiversity BioBlitz. This year’s event was a world-wide collaborative effort rather than a competition.

Data collection Apr 29-May 3

Identifications May 4-9 Scarlet Tanager, Missy McAllister Peppered jumping spider, Dusty, Kerr, iNaturalist, CCBY-NC iNaturalist, CCBY-NC Heart of TX by the numbers:

• 9 counties Participating McLennan • More than 4,200 observations Counties: Milam Bell Somervell • More than 1,200 recorded Bosque Coryell • 165 observers Falls Hamilton • More than 300 identifiers Hill • Over 99% of observations were verifiable Heart of Texas Highlights Globally, 419 cities from 44 countries participated in the 2021 City Nature Challenge. Heart of Texas ranked #81 for Observations, #46 for Species, and #93 for Observers globally, placing it in the top 17% of projects.

The City Nature Challenge is organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences. More information at citynaturechallenge.org Heart of Texas Cumulative Impact

63% of the observations recorded during the City Nature Challenge in the Heart of Texas area were Research Grade - observations of wild organisms with photo 63% of all Observations or sound vouchers of a quality to merit a to Research species-level identification by the majority of Grade identifiers. During the 4 days of the event, the project saw: • 23 Species of Greatest Conservation Need at Research Grade (see list) • 60 new species records in iNaturalist • 3% increase in iNaturalist observations for the project metro counties • Project page: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021- heart-of-texas

Orchard Oriole, Aaron Lunate zale moth, Dusty, iNaturalist, Scarlet leather flower, Aaron Lincoln iNaturalist, CCBY-NC CCBY-NC Lincoln iNaturalist, CCBY-NC

The City Nature Challenge is organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences. More information at citynaturechallenge.org Heart of Texas

Species of Greatest Conservation Need Recorded to Research Grade American Bumble Bee, Bombus pensylvanicus Bewick's Wren, Thryomanes bewickii Dickcissel, Spiza americana Glandular Blazing Star, Liatris glandulosa Golden-cheeked Warbler, Setophaga chrysoparia Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum Green Heron, Butorides virescens Hall's Dalea, Dalea hallii Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius Painted Bunting, Passerina ciris Plateau Milkvine, Matelea edwardsensis Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus Scarlet Leather Flower, Clematis texensis Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus Sonoran Bumble Bee, Bombus sonorus Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra Swainson's Hawk, Buteo swainsoni Sycamore-leaf Snowbell, Styrax platanifolius Texas Blind , dulcis White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus

The City Nature Challenge is organized by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences. More information at citynaturechallenge.org