The Diana Project: Diana Fritillary Conservation Status's Journal

As of June 1st The Diana Project appears to be successful with many thanks to all of you who are doing the leg work. I wanted to post this update to let you know our efforts to create pollinator awareness and encourage citizen science to increase The Diana's chance of survival during our first year are working. Here are some statistics to prove it:

✓ Over 800 people on the Facebook page and 87 on instagram.
✓ 187 members in The Diana Project here on iNaturalist
✓ This year to date we have 236 observations of Diana's. This is almost twice as many as the last 10 years of observations combined.
✓ 100 observers this year have seen Diana's and posted to iNaturalist which is 44 more than the last 10 years combined.
✓ 2392 visits to the website we published in June 2023 - Insights indicate 462 of those visitors went to the native plant list and 370 came to check out our project here on iNaturalist. There were 374 looking into "How to become an Arkansas Master Naturalist" with the remaining divided between social media, events, contact info and the resources list.

In one year The Diana Project has been very well received by other entities and we have had several cooperative opportunities.

• Fayetteville Public Library green roof - Native Plant and Pollinator Education Garden installation of The Diana Patch #1
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC) at Logan Springs Preserve - 500 plants donated by TNC and installed with the help of volunteers - The Diana Patch #2
• JB and Johnelle Hunt Ozark Highlands Nature Center (ONHC) - The Diana Patch #3 installation
• NW Arkansas Master Naturalist Native Plant Project - donated plants for ONHC and the Library as well as advice in plant selection for the green roof.
• The Ozark Society - provided cases of Lori Spencer's books to distribute for a discounted donation as a fundraiser
• Ozark Wild Ones - much appreciated native plant advice and research for the entire project
• Many of the local native plant nurseries understand the value, to their bottom line and to The Diana, of offering both violets and the special nectar plants to their customers. We have been working to try to coordinate both the selection, seed collections and marketing for them to be more successful.
• Pollinator Project & Bee Friendly Gardening - providing a resource list for us to use and spreading the word in their newsletter
• Arkansas Game and Fish (Nick Goforth) - For fact checking me as we go and answering a bazillion questions from me via email without ever once complaining.

I am constantly reminded by friends, volunteers and family that I can't save an entire species by myself. My answer to that is, "I can damn sure try!" But it is much more sustainable and likely to prove successful to have you all aiming for the same goal. All I can say is Thank-You! Thank-You! Thank-You!

Be sure to check out the updates on the website. There is a new link to the events coming up, a resource page with tons of ideas from prescribed burns to native plant nurseries and the updated research based nectar plant list for our specialist, The Diana.

https://www.thedianaproject.org

The trip planned to day to visit and learn from Mr. Barnhart at the Roston Butterfly House has been cancelled due to inclement weather in Springfield, MO. We will let you know when it is rescheduled.

June 29 at Historic Cane Hill 10am-12pm

Celebrate National Pollinators Month by exploring the wonders of Arkansas’ State Butterfly, the Diana Fritillary (Argynnis diana), with Shawn Hunter.

Shawn is a NWA Master Naturalist, a Wild Ones Ozark Chapter member, and the co-founder of The Diana Project. Shawn will share an informative presentation that explores the Diana’s unique lifecycle and the challenges it faces. She will also explain the history and purpose of The Diana Project and provide resources to help participants become involved. The presentation will help create public awareness regarding creation and protection of habitat, the importance of providing essential native plant nectar, and the need for responsible pesticide and herbicide use.

Guests are invited to bring their lunch to enjoy after the workshop, or go directly out to the trails to begin identifying butterflies. iNaturalist is critical to The Diana Project for providing decision makers much-needed data to help track threatened insects. If attendees would like to use their mobile phone or other smart device, they can practice sighting pollinators after the presentation. Folks that are avid iNat users are invited to help new iNat users during the hike.

This is a free event, but registration is requested. Participants can register at historiccanehillar.org/pollinator-pals

... that the place to be this weekend for an easy walk and tons of blooms in NWA - try one of these AR Natural Heritage Commission locations
1). Cherokee Tall Grass Prairie (TGP) - 584 acres
2). Flanagan TGP - 536 acres
3). Presson/ Oglesby TGP - 200 acres.

Why? The Prairie gayfeather Liatris is in peak bloom now... yellow Rudbeckia grandiflora and Ashy sunflower. There are over 400 plant species listed on these sites.

4). There is also a new area at Healing Springs Natural Area - 25 acres of Monarda fistulosa in peak bloom right now. Healing Springs is between XNA entrance and Cave Springs.

More natural areas near you? Check out https://www.arkansasheritage.com