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Spring Migration at Hagerman NWR By Dr. Wayne Meyer, Ornithologist |
Male and Female Orchard Orioles by K.I.R.A.N Photography We have just begun spring migration season at Hagerman NWR. Over the next three months thousands of individual birds of hundreds of species will be moving through our area. Some will be leaving to go north in order to breed in the Rocky Mountains or the prairie potholes region. The geese will be going all the way to the arctic circle and beyond to take advantage of 24-hour sunshine in order to breed at maximum efficiency. Some will be coming from the south to breed here once the weather warms enough for them. Many will just pass through, some remaining only for a day or two, some spending weeks storing fat in order to continue their journeys. |
Bobolink by Donnie Simmons Some of our most spectacular species are of this last group. The Bobolink is the only bird in North America to have a black underside and light-colored top. Their gold and silver heads and shoulders make quite a remarkable sight. Unfortunately, they are usually only on the refuge during the first week of May, although a few years ago they stayed for three weeks. Baltimore Orioles also bless us with their spectacular orange-and-black plumage as they pass through, although a few individuals breed just across the Oklahoma border and may wander into our area in late summer once breeding has ended. We do, however, play host to Orchard Orioles. These smallest of the oriole clan breed from New England and the Northern Tier states right through the great plains into northern Texas. Adult males are unmistakable with their red brown bodies and black wings. Females are yellowy green with black wings and white wingbars. Males in their first spring and summer are similar to females but have black faces and throats. They will molt into the orange and black of adult males after they reach one year of age. |
Left: Painted Bunting, Right: Indigo Bunting, both by Murali Hanabe Other remarkable summer residents include the buntings. Indigo buntings are solid blue with blue and black wings and tails. They also sport a small black area between the eye and bill. Each male sings only one song, but he may shorten or lengthen it as the mood strikes. Usually all of the males in one small area will sing the same song, as they learn their songs in the nest listening to the neighbors and their own father. Of course, my favorite is the Painted Bunting, called Azulio sietecolores in Spanish. This translates to “little blue one with seven colors”, referring to the blue head, red undersides, chartreuse mantle blending into green secondary coverts, brown wings and a black tail. Unlike the Indigo Bunting, each Painted Bunting sings its own songs which are not shared with any other individual. However, like all the species in the genus Passerina, they all make songs from a common vocabulary of 80 or so syllables. No one knows why these two species are on opposite ends of the song spectrum.
Juvenile Indigo Bunting by Mayve Strong Of course, our winter residents will be leaving us. Most of the geese fly north to Canada or the beyond the Arctic Circle to breed. The farther north they go, the longer summer days last and therefore the more time they have to find food for their young. A multitude of studies have shown that birds of the same species raise more offspring if they breed in the north of the breeding range as compared to those breeding in the south of the range. Our Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls and Green-winged Teal will all be leaving us in the next few weeks. They will be replaced by Blue-winged Teal. The Mallards, at least some of them, will not leave. The escapee Canada Geese will stay here and raise more than 200 young over the summer. I haven’t even touched on the shorebirds that come through by the thousands. That will have to wait for another essay. |
Refuge Update: There is uncertainty about the future of public access and use of the refuge due to potential budget and staff cuts. Cuts will also impact the staff’s ability to properly manage and restore habitat for birds and wildlife. The refuge lost 2 of 7 staff members in early March when they chose to accept the deferred resignation offer that allows them to stop work now then retire at the end of 2025. With budget and/or staffing cuts, possible impacts include reducing the number of open days/hours or possibly even closing the visitor center; closing outdoor restroom facilities due to the inability to maintain them; hiking trails might not be suitably maintained or mowed; roads might not be maintained; the number of public programs may need to be reduced. What can concerned citizens do to help? Contact your federal representatives and senators to let them know that Hagerman NWR and the National Wildlife Refuge System is important to you and the local communities where they are located. And volunteer with the Friends of Hagerman NWR! |
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Upcoming Activities:
The Friends of Hagerman is Hosting 12 Family Friendly Events in April! Donate to help fund programs like these! |
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Nature Festival Saturday, May 10, 2025
Photos of our 2024 festival by Lea Watson |
The New Pergola The Friends of Hagerman Board announced in 2024, a restoration project for the Butterfly Garden. At the 2025 Friends of Hagerman Annual Meeting, Chair Laurie Sheppard outlined a number of completed parts of this project as well as plans for additional upgrades. To enhance the experience the Garden offers, the Butterfly Garden features two pergolas which visitors can utilize to sit and observe wildlife, or just relax out of the sun. One of those pergolas was in need of repair and so a new pergola has been constructed in its place. Ninety volunteer hours went into the construction and the Committee invites you to include a stop at the Garden on your next visit. The Butterfly Garden is located directly across the parking lot from the Visitor Center. Established in 2014, the plants in the garden were specially chosen to serve as nectar sources or host plants for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Come enjoy the Garden on your own or join one of our Butterfly Garden Walks scheduled May through October! |
Second Saturday: Birding By Ear with Dr. Wayne Meyer Saturday, April 12, at 10:00 AM in the Visitor Center
Observing birds requires more than just seeing them. When you learn to recognize their songs you will find more birds and get better ideas about where to find them. Top birders hear more birds first than they see first. Come learn a few of the common birds around the refuge and improve your results. In 1993, Dr. Wayne Meyer finally achieved his life’s dream of being paid to look at birds when he joined the faculty of Austin College. He has birded both coasts of the U.S. extensively and now has spent a quarter century birding in Texas and Oklahoma. The proximity of Austin College to Hagerman NWR has made research on prairie birds easy and convenient and he has been studying song learning and singing in Painted Buntings for over a decade. Meyer is also a sought after speaker for Master Naturalist groups and a frequent speaker at the Friends of Hagerman NWR second Saturday programs. Photo by Donnie Simmons Future Second Saturday Programs |
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Birding with Jack: The Weekly Bird Census
Left to Right: Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles and Terry Goode Each Tuesday a team of experienced birders, including Master Naturalist Jack Chiles, traverse 35 miles of refuge roads and hiking trails, documenting every bird they encounter. This Bird Census is reported to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology for use in research, and each week we will bring you a link to their actual bird count, and a summary of their adventures. White-eyed Vireo, Brown thrasher and Red-headed Woodpecker It was a beautiful day for our first census of spring this year. Migrants are arriving and shorebirds are numerous. The lake elevation is low and there is an abundance of mudflats. We counted 49 American Golden-Plovers and 2 Black-bellied Plovers. There were 256 Long-billed Dowitchers, 132 Greater Yellowlegs, 9 Lesser Yellowlegs, 114 Baird's Sandpipers, 71 Pectoral Sandpipers, 49 Killdeer, 22 Least Sandpipers,4 Wilson's Snipes and 2 Western Sandpipers. We saw 2 Bald Eagles, one of which was sitting in the trees on Goose Point most of the day. We saw or heard 12 White-eyed Vireos that have recently arrived and they were in full song. Yellow-rumped Warblers were numerous with a count of 26. We saw the first 2 Lark Sparrows of the season. There are still a few Ross's and Snow Geese present. We finished the day with 87 species. Migration will be picking up each week for the next six weeks or so. Today's photos, singing White-eyed Vireo, Brown thrasher and Red-headed Woodpecker. Watch for the census results every Tuesday evening: Bird Census Results |
The Friends of Hagerman NWR Photo Club Full Moon Shoot, April 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Meet Nancy Miller, the new Photo Club leader and meet up with us for a Full Moon Shoot! The moon coming up over the refuge can make some great photos. If you would like to meet up and shoot the moonrise on April 12, send an email to sign up for this event. We will meet up at the Visitor Center at 7:15 in the parking lot, and go to the location from there. The moon will best be seen from Wildlife Drive. Event Leader: Nancy Miller Email for details: FOHPhotoClub@friendsofhageman.org |
Nature'Ology: A Fun Day of Learning About Nature! A free single day camp for children 11 or 12 years old Saturday, June 7th, 2025 A full day of learning all about nature: fossils, prairies, spiders, birds, snakes and water cycles! Make a terrarium, enjoy a nature craft and meet other young nature enthusiasts! This program has become so popular, that it fills up very quickly. As a pre-registrant, you will be emailed a link to apply for a confirmed reservation on Wednesday, May 7th at 10:00 AM, one day before reservations become available to the general public. The first 30 students to complete registration on or after May 7th will be granted a confirmed reservation. |
| Puddles' Craft Corner By Cindy Steele, Master Naturalist |
April Showers Bring May Flowers!
Have you ever heard the phrase, “April Showers Bring May Flowers”? Well, it’s true! Spring is the season for rain… lots and lots of rain, and these activities are sure to keep your kiddos engaged, even on the days that it’s too wet to go out and play! April is the perfect month to learn about the water cycle and what makes rain, so let’s learn a little bit about where our water comes from! Pour yourself a glass of water and take a sip. Did you know that the water you’ve just swallowed is the same water that animals and people have been drinking for years and years? That’s because the Earth has been recycling water for over four billion years!
Water is the most common substance on Earth. It takes up over two thirds of our planet’s surface and it supports all life. Did you know? Water makes up almost two thirds of your body too! The amount of water on Earth is limited — a fixed supply! But… we use so much water every day. How have we not run out of water yet? That is thanks to what is called the ‘Water Cycle.’ The world’s water moves between lakes, rivers, oceans, the atmosphere, and the land in an ongoing cycle called – you guessed it! – the water cycle. As it goes through this continuous system, it can be a liquid (water), a gas (vapor) or a solid (ice). So, are all you budding young scientists ready to learn some splashing new facts? Then join Puddles as we take a look at the different stages of the wonderful water cycle… The water cycle is made up of four parts: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Let’s see what these four parts are. Evaporation Energy from the sun heats up the surface of the Earth, causing the temperature of the water in our rivers, lakes, and oceans to rise. When this happens, some of the water “evaporates” into the air, turning into a gas called “vapor “. Plants and trees also lose water to the atmosphere through their leaves. This process is known as “transpiration “.
Condensation As water vapor rises up high into the sky, it cools and turns back into a liquid, forming clouds. This process is called “condensation “. Currents high up in the air move these clouds around the globe. Precipitation When too much water has condensed, the water droplets in the clouds become too big and heavy for the air to hold them. And so, they...
Continue the Lesson With Full Instructions and other Nature Crafts with Puddles
Junior Ranger Program
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| The Junior Ranger Pledge As a Junior Ranger at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, I pledge to protect outdoor creatures small, big and huge. To keep the water, air and land clean. To make enjoying nature a routine. I will share my new skills with family and friends. When people and nature work together, everybody wins! |
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Sponsors Enable the Friends to…
Join Today! Memberships available for $10 |
Come, Take a Tour on the Wildlife Explorer! Come join us for a ride on the Wildlife Explorer! Our new and beautiful tram is available for ninety-minute tours of Hagerman every Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Our tours are as varied as our drivers. Each tram driver has her/his approach to the tour: you may learn about wildlife, birds, habitat, refuge history, photography, you name it! To paraphrase, “a Wildlife Explorer tour at Hagerman is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” But you know it’s going to be good! Come see us! Lots of stops for bird-watching and photography. |
Register for a Tram Tour Today! |
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Butterfly Garden Walks
Registration is not necessary |
Pipevine Swallowtail (right) by Laurie Sheppard |
Photo by Cathy Van Bebber | Sunrise at the Little Sit by Laurie Sheppard |
Meet Jack and the Bird Census Team and learn how to identify the birds of North Texas while enjoying the beautiful sunrise over Lake Texoma! Modeled after Cornell's national "Big Sit" event, a group of dedicated birders invite you to join them at sunrise to conduct a bird count as multiple species fly to the water and the surrounding land to feed. Leaders will bring spotting scopes and will provide tips for identification of the many species you will see. This event lasts a couple of hours, but all are welcome to come and go as they please. Participants are advised to bring a chair, binoculars and water. The First Saturday of every month, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise. |
Location: H Pad, Sadler, Texas 76264 (H Pad is in Sadler, but it is part of the refuge) GPS Coordinates: 33.734961, -96.780582
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Early Bird Walk with Jack Chiles Master Naturalist Jack Chiles will lead our Early Birding event, weather permitting. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. Meet at the Visitor Center and return in time for the Second Saturday program.
Please Register (Optional) so we may inform you via email of unforseen changes/cancellations. |
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Do You Like to Work Outside? The Refuge Needs You! |
It takes a lot of people to have a beautiful garden! The Wednesday Garden Team Love to work with native plants and meet other gardeners? Come and help us add plants, weed and mulch our beautiful butterfly garden. Garden Team volunteers get first dibs on thinned native plants as well as access to seeds and cuttings for propagation. Gardeners meet on most Wednesdays, but times vary. Contact Us to subscribe to the volunteer garden team weekly email. Provide own tools and gloves. Minimum age 18, or 16 if accompanied by parent/volunteer. |
Mowing and Refuge Beautification: The Work Crew Do you enjoy working outside, mowing, sprucing up hiking trails, trimming and removing brush and general cleanup? Show your love for nature by joining the Outdoor Crew at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Outdoor Crew volunteers meet on the First Tuesday and Fourth Saturday of every month. Contact Us for exact times, dates and other details about joining the volunteer Work Crew. Scouts welcome! |
Visitor Center Volunteers Needed! |
Do you enjoy meeting all kinds of people from all over the world, and like-minded people in our area? If yes, consider joining our team of Visitor Center Volunteers. You will greet refuge guests, distribute maps and other refuge information, and make sales in the gift shop. Shifts available every day of the week: Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 12:30 to 4:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Training is provided. Contact Us if interested. |
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| Thank You To Our Contributors: Jack Chiles, Murali Hanabe, Donnie Simmons,Cindy Steele, Mayve Strong Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley Deputy Refuge Manager: Paul Balkenbush Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard Editors: Patricia Crain, Laurie SheppardFriends of Hagerman NWR Foundation 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092 Phone: 903-786-2826 Join us on Facebook: |
Search for any word--do not use quotes for phrases |
6465 Refuge Road Sherman, TX 75092
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Kroger: Stop by the customer service desk at Kroger and link your Kroger Card to the Friends of Hagerman: the Friends will get rewards for every dollar you spend, at no cost to you.
Please add info@friendsofhagerman.org to your contacts to ensure delivery of registration confirmations, account information and the Featherless Flyer
See you at the refuge!