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The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Fauna Project

Gardens are not just collections of plants; they are ecosystems. While the flora of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, located in Austin, TX, has been intensely studied and documented, the animals that live therein have not previously enjoyed the same attention. The Fauna Project, initiated in March, 2010, is helping collect information on the non-human visitors (and residents) in the Gardens.

The main activity of the Fauna Project is the weekly survey to note observations about the animals found in the Gardens and surrounding trails. This basically consists of a group of people trying to see as much as possible. Our main focus is on the numerous insects, spiders and other invertebrates, but we will occasionally encounter larger animals such as reptiles, birds, and mammals. Valerie Bugh is leading the surveys, but has limited knowledge of birds, so we appreciate experienced birders. The information gathered is being added to a database that will give a more comprehensive view of the wildlife populations. One of the benefits of these surveys is to help the visiting public see and understand a bit more about the ecology of gardens.

Whether you would like to learn to identify insects, hone your observational skills, or discover more about the complex web of life, all levels of expertise are welcome and no special knowledge is required. Our basic tools are curiosity, sharp eyes, binoculars, cameras, and taking notes. Identifications sometimes require the use of reference books and research afterwards.

If you have questions, would like to receive notices when survey summaries are published, or are interested in participating in the Fauna Project, please contact or the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Survey Summaries

2010
 
Mar 25
Apr 1 8 15 22 24 29
May 6 13 20 22 27
Jun 3 10 12 17 24
Jul 1 8 10 15
Aug 19 21 26
Sep 2 9 16 23 25 30
Oct 7 14 21 28
Nov 4 11 18
Dec 2 9 16
2011
Feb 3 10 17 24 26
Mar 3 10 17 24 26 31
Apr 7 14 21 28 30
May 5 12 19 26
Jun 2 9 16 23 25 30
Jul 21 28 30
Aug 4 11 18 25 27
Sep 1 8 15 22 29
Oct 6 13 15 20 27
Nov 3 10 17
Dec 1 8 15
2012
Feb 2 9 16 23
Mar 1 8 22 29
Apr 5 12 19 26
May 3 10 17 24 31
Jun 7 14 21 28
Jul 5 12 19 26
Aug 2 9 16 23 30
Sep 6 13 20 27
Oct 4 11 18 25
Nov 1 8 15 29
Dec 6 13
2013
Feb 7 14 21 28
Mar 7 14 21 28
Apr 4 11 18 25
May 2 9 16 23 30
Jun 6 13 20 27
Jul 11 18
Aug 8 15 22 29
Sep 5 12 19 26
Oct 3 10 17 24 31
Nov 7 14 21
Dec 5 12 19
2014
Feb 6 13 20 27
Mar 6 13 20 27
Apr 3 17 24
May 1 8 15 22 29
Jun 5 12 19 26
Jul 3 10 17 24 31
Aug 7 14 21 28
Sep 4 11 18 25
Oct 2 9 16 23 30
Nov 6 13 20
Dec 4 11 18
2015
Feb 5 12 19 26
Mar 12 19 26
Apr 2 9 16 23 30
May 7 14 21
Jun 11 18 25
Jul 2 16 23 30
Aug 6 13 20 27
Sep 3 10 17 24
Oct 1 8 15 22 29
Nov 5 12 19
Dec 3 10 17
2016
Feb 4 11 18 25
Mar 3 10 17 24 31
Apr 7 14 21 28
May 5 12 26
Jun 2 9 16 23 30
Jul 7 14 28
Aug 4 11 18 25
Sep 1 8 15 22 29
Oct 6 13 20 27
Nov 3 10 17
Dec 1 8 15
2017
Feb 2 9 16 23
Mar 2 9 16 23 30
Apr 6 13 20 27
May 4 11 18
Jun 1 8 15 22 29
Jul 6 13 20 27
Aug 3 10 17 24
Sep 7 14 21 28
Oct 12 19 26
Nov 2 9 16 30
Dec 7 14
2018
Feb 1 8 15 22
Mar 1 8 15 22 29
Apr 5 12 19 26
May 3 10 17 24 31
Jun 7 14 21 28
Jul 5 12 19 26
Aug 2 9 16 30
Sep 6 13 20 27
Oct 4 11 18 25
Nov 1 8 15 29
Dec 6 13 20
2019
Feb 7 14 21 28
Mar 7 21 28
Apr 4 11 18 25
May 2 9 16 23 30
Jun 6 13 20 27
Jul 4 11 18
Aug 1 8 15 22 29
Sep 5 12 19 26
Oct 3 10 17 24 31
Nov 7 14 21
Dec 5 12 19
2020
Feb 6 13 20 27
Mar 5 12
Surveys suspended
due to COVID-19

Lockdown walks in
other local areas:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
2021
 
 
 
May 27
Jun 3 10 17 24
Jul 1 8 15 22 29
Aug 5 12 19 26
Sep 2 9 16 23 30
Oct 7 14 21 28
Nov 4 11 18
Dec 2 9 16
2022
Feb 10 17 24
Mar 3 10 17 24 31
Apr 7 14 21 28
May 5 12 19 26
Jun 2 9 16 23 30
Jul 7 14 21 28
Aug 4 11 18 25
Sep 1 8 15 22 29
Oct 6 13 20 27
Nov 3 10 17
Dec 1 8 15
2023
Feb 16 23
Mar 2 9 16 23 30
Apr 6 13 20 27
May 4 11 18 25
Jun 1 8 15 22 29
Jul 6 13 20 27
Aug 3 10 17 24 31
Sep 7 14 21 28
Oct 5 26
Nov 2 9 16 30
Dec 7 14 21
2024
Feb 1 15 22 29
Mar 7 14 21 28
Apr 11 18

Database Downloads (updated April 21, 2024)
Insects
9.48 mb
Non-Insects
2.48 mb

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