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Adult Best in Show Foggy Morning @Myers Branch By Jeffrey Gladden |
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We received many impressive submissions this year in the Photo Contest, which reminded me of the many things there are to see, and the different ways people see them.
My first experience with Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was in 2009, when my sister and
I joined one of the Friends of Hagerman’s Photo Safaris along Harris Creek Trail. I had no idea then that a simple hike would introduce me to people who would become lifelong friends or that it would spark a deeper connection with the refuge itself. From that day forward, Hagerman became my safe place—a place to breathe, clear my head, and reconnect with nature. When the Photo Club formed in 2010, I was thrilled. I attended every meeting and entered the photo contest year after year. I didn’t win anything at first, but the encouragement, shared knowledge, and friendships I built in the club kept me growing. Little by little I moved from a simple point-and-shoot camera to more advanced gear, and from fully automatic settings to shooting in manual. The club didn’t just help me become a better photographer—it connected me to a whole community. Today, I’m proud to pay that kindness forward by helping others learn photography and editing. Some of my favorite memories at the refuge involve the youth programs. I used to bring someone I considered a granddaughter, and she looked forward to them with such excitement that she insisted we arrive early. After each program we would drive around the refuge, and she would tell me everything she learned. Those programs sparked joy, curiosity, and a love of nature in her that I will always treasure. Second Saturday programs are a great place to learn more about the refuge. They cover everything—from fish and lichens to conservation practices. They are a great place to learn about all the wildlife we see and photograph. The Butterfly Garden is another wonderful feature, and the volunteer docents there are always ready to help visitors identify species and learn about their life cycles. They will also share plant information to help you create your own butterfly paradise. |
I also want to give a big thank-you to the Friends of Hagerman’s donors for the funds raised and to all the volunteers who prepared and planted the fields for the geese this year. Every field was planted, and the wheat looks fantastic. The geese have arrived and are grateful for the food. I hope everyone comes out to enjoy the geese this season. Please respect them by giving them space—there’s no need to get too close or try to make them fly. And while you’re out enjoying or photographing them, stay aware of others who may be outside their vehicles doing the same. Hagerman has given me friendships, skills, peace, and purpose. I hope it continues doing the same for many others in the years to come. Photo Club Meeting: Photographing Birds with Tom Judd January 17, 2026, 1:00 PM
Concepts for improving photographs and improving odds of getting good photographs of birds by making use of various camera settings, being aware of lighting, camera position and lens choices. Tom is a retired Professional Photographer out of Denton, and an avid birder. He visits the refuge to photograph birds when time allows. Registration is not required. |
Refuge Update: Though refuge lands are open from sunrise until sunset every day of the year, the Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday 9-4, Sunday 1-5. It's a great time to visit the refuge! Big Game Hunt Public Safety Notice Hunting activity associated with the Big Game Hunt will be occurring at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge from Dec 05-07. Visitors are encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings, wear visible clothing, and follow all posted safety signs and guidance while on the refuge. Refuge staff appreciate your cooperation in ensuring a safe experience for hunters and visitors alike. The following areas will be affected by the deer hunt: Meyers Branch, Harris Creek, Big Mineral Units Click here for details. Haller's Haven will be the only open hiking trail.
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Upcoming Activities:
The Friends of Hagerman is Hosting 15 Family Friendly Events in December! |
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Shhhhh...They are Resting
Every November thousands of Snow and Ross Geese incredibly make their way to Hagerman from the Arctic Tundra. Photo by Laurie Sheppard
The Snow/Ross geese arriving to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge will have recently made an exhausting 3,000-mile trip from the Arctic Tundra. When they finally reach the refuge, they will find their perfect habitat managed by refuge staff, and hundreds of acres of wheat planted just for them. After all, these geese and other migratory birds of all types, are the primary reason our refuge exists!
Please come and enjoy the incredible sight of thousands of geese! Please also respect their need to seek refuge and feed in peace: it is critical to their survival to regain their strength through diet and rest.
Disturbing the geese is a federal offense, possibly resulting in hefty fines.
Second Saturday: Obstacles to Environmental Progress with Peter Schulze Saturday, December 13 at 10:00 AM in the Visitor Center
Why, when so many people understand the severity of environmental problems, is progress so slow and sustainability such a distant goal? What gets in the way? Perhaps you have immediately thought of several barriers. In Obstacles to Environmental Progress, Peter Schulze identifies 18 practical obstacles that routinely and predictably hinder U.S. progress on existing environmental problems. The obstacles apply to problems small and large and, in most cases, regardless of whether an issue is controversial. Though the book focuses on the U.S., most of the obstacles pertain elsewhere as well. The obstacles fall into three categories: challenges to anticipating, detecting, and understanding problems; political and economic factors that interfere with responding; and obstacles to effective responses. While all the obstacles are predictable and common, they have not been systematically studied as related phenomena, perhaps because they span a wide range of academic disciplines. |
The perfect Christmas gift for the bird Lover in your family: The Adopt-A-Nestbox Sale Is On Now! Only a Few Left!
Each year, the Friends of Hagerman invite the public to support the Eastern Bluebird population through our Adopt-A-Nestbox Program. By adopting a nestbox, you’ll help protect these beloved birds and enjoy a front-row seat to their nesting journey. As an adopter, you’ll have the opportunity to name your nestbox and visit it anytime along the easily accessible Raasch or Harris Creek hiking trails. Throughout nesting season, nestbox sponsors will receive weekly email updates, including a photo from inside the nestbox and a description of each stage of development—from the first twig in the nest to the fledglings’ big day. An adopted nestbox also makes a wonderful and meaningful Christmas gift! A $50 donation per nestbox supports the care and maintenance of our impressive Bluebird Trail, which includes 45 nestboxes throughout the refuge. Join us in helping Eastern Bluebirds thrive! Adopt a Nestbox Today! |
When Are the Best Times to See the Geese? By Nana Rylander Probably the most amazing sight at Hagerman are the huge numbers of Snow and Ross geese (sometimes as many as 6,000 to 7,000) that visit the refuge during the winter. But when, exactly, is your best chance of seeing that many? The chart below illustrates weekly geese sightings during the past three years by our faithful bird watchers, who go out every Tuesday during the year to do a weekly bird census. You can see that your best chances of seeing large numbers of geese are from the last week in November through the first week in January. From mid-January through February it is hit or miss: one week there might be 3500 and the next week, maybe 5 or 10. It varies from year-to-year, depending on the weather and the abundance of wheat. It might vary greatly during one day, if you happen to come when the geese are out grazing in nearby farmers' fields. If you are going in early November or from mid-January through early March, you might want to check our web-site to find out what the birders have seen most recently. Happy birding!
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Homeschool Field Trip: December 12, 2025, 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM We invite all independent homeschool children to join us for a day outside learning about all things nature! We will join other homeschool children and participate in these activities according to age and grade level: For older students (ages 12+): Dr. Wayne Meyer, Ornithologist, will lead a 90-minute, 2-mile bird-walk adventure. We’ll provide binoculars and explore different habitats while we search for wildlife of all sorts! For younger students: They’ll enjoy a shorter hike and Buzz, Flutter, Bloom!, an insect-binocular activity (or a fun indoor program if the weather doesn’t cooperate). For all students: Everyone will take part in the Adaptation Artistry lesson and Skins, Skulls and Bats—a favorite with kids of all ages. Teachers: It's time to schedule a Spring Field Trip! Apply for a Field Trip today! |
A Carolina Mantis Egg Sac on the Visitor Center Patio
On your next trip to the refuge, check out the tables on the patio. One of them has this very interesting egg sac from a Praying Mantis species called the Carolina Mantis. Enjoy a peek, but please do not disturb.
Thank you to Connie Koval, North Texas MN, for providing the egg sac photos.
Calling All Bird Watchers: The Christmas Bird Count Needs You! Participate in person, or at home on December 20th
Join us in Person: We will meet at the FOH Building* at 7 AM. We will divide into groups and disperse to count all the birds we can detect in a 15 mile circle centered on Cook’s corners. Observers of any skill level can help for a half day or whole day. *Directions to the FOH Building: From the visitor center parking lot, take the road just past the Butterfly garden up the hill. You may ignore the “authorized personnel only” sign. Pass the house on the right, follow the sign to the FOH AV room. The van is parked along the brick wall. Dinner will be provided in the Visitor Center at 5:00 PM after the BIrd Count for those who register. Participate at home: We also need help from anyone who has bird feeders inside the circle (see map below). Feeder watchers should keep track of the maximum number of each species observed and how much time they spend looking. For example, if you see three Chickadees in the morning, 5 at noon and four in the afternoon you would report 5 Chickadees so that you don’t count the same birds twice. Please email your results to info@friendsofhagerman.org. Include all birds you see and time spent looking, rounded to the nearest half hour.
The Christmas Count circle includes the following communities: Preston Peninsula, Highpoint, Pottsboro, Mill Creek, Sherwood Shores, Cedar Bayou, Cedar Mills, Walnut Creek, Gordonville, Big Mineral, Paradise Cove, Flowing Wells, Hagerman, Basin Springs, Grayson County Airport, Fink, Locust, and Shay and Enos OK. |
Help Wanted: Be A Tram Tour Driver!
If you haven’t experienced a tram tour yet, you can sign up to be our guest here. And if the idea sparks your interest, we’d love to talk with you more about joining our team. For more information, email us at info@friendsofhagerman.org |
Have you taken a tram tour yet? It’s a relaxing, enjoyable ride through some of the most beautiful parts of the refuge, shared with visitors who love nature just as much as you do. You don’t need to be a bird expert to drive the tram—just someone who enjoys meeting people, spotting wildlife, and sharing what makes Hagerman special. Our tram drivers receive excellent training and have the freedom to talk about the areas of the refuge that interest them most.The Weekly Bird Census
Left to Right: Wayne Meyer, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles, and Mike Petrick 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.
Belted Kingfisher and Dark Phase Ross's Goose Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cinnamon Teal on the right with a female Mallard It was a beautiful fall day for our census. More white geese are arriving all the time with an estimated 3500 today. There was a high percentage of Ross's Geese in the flock today and we found a dark phase Ross's Goose which is rare. With the recent rains the wheat is doing great and there should be enough for the geese to eat well into December. On the road to Meadow Pond we found American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and a couple of Purple Finches feeding in the trees. There was a Belted Kingfisher, one of three for the day, in a tree near the long bridge on Meadow Pond trail. We saw a Red-headed Woodpecker at Deaver Pond. We saw a Merling, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks. We saw a Cinnamon Teal in with some Mallards near Wildlife Drive on the south end of Mineral Marsh. We had a couple of Brown Creepers at the Goode picnic area. There were lots of ducks, the highest number being Green-winged Teal with a count of 280. A few Franklin's Gull and American White Pelicans are still present. The lake has risen some with the recent rains covering most of the mudflats. We finished the day with 78 species. See the rest of Jack's notes and the latest Bird Census Results |
| Puddles' Craft Corner By Cindy Steele, Master Naturalist |
Animal Tracks
Welcome back to Puddles’ Craft Corner! Have you ever been on a hike or even a walk in your neighborhood and looked down to see some sort of animal tracks on the ground, but weren’t sure what type of animal made those tracks? Well, we’re about to learn a little bit about how to identify those tracks.
When outdoors, many children don’t have the good fortune of seeing animals in action; seeing them usually takes luck, patience, silence, and time.
There are many other ways to observe wildlife without actually seeing the animals. For Instance, children can look for evidence of the animals’ activities. There are many signs that children can learn to look for that indicate what types of animals are around, what they’re eating and doing, what sort of habitat they might live in, and what kinds of interactions are happening
between animals. Animal tracks are one of the easiest signs for children to find and understand.
Animal tracking is a fun nature activity for the whole family, and it can be done any time of the year. The best part is that you don’t need to be an expert to track animals, if you’re equipped with some curiosity about the natural world. See it as an opportunity for the whole family to learn something new!
Why Track Animals with Kids?
- It connects them to nature in a very direct and hands-on way.
- It teaches them to be aware of their surroundings and the creatures that live there.
- It gives them a chance to use critical thinking skills and scientific inquiry methods.
- It gives them a chance to experience nature with both body and mind.
- It’s an incentive for both you and them to learn about different animals.
- It gives kids a chance to lead and problem solve in nature.
- It’s an incentive to go outside.
- It’s fun!
What Are Some Things to Remember When Out Hunting Tracks?
It’s important to protect nature wherever you go! Keep yourself, your family, and the animals around you safe by keeping these things in mind:
- Never get close to a wild animal –– even if it looks friendly or tries to
- approach you.
- Leave it where you found it –– don’t take things out of nature that belong there.
- Don’t leave trash behind –– pick up after yourself if you bring snacks along.
- Always practice caution –– be wary of dangerous animals like bears while tracking. Where Can You Look for Animal Tracks?
When searching for animal tracks, it’s important to know where to look! Depending on where you live and the season, it may be tricky to track down footprints left by mystery...
Junior Ranger Program: Advanced and Intermediate
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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 $20 |
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 at 2:00 PM, 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. |
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Group Tram Tour |
Register for a Tram Tour Today! |
Sunrise at the Little Sit by Laurie Sheppard | Photo by Cathy Van Bebber |
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 Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 8:00, Meet at the Visitor Center |
Dr. Wayne Meyer, Ornithologist, and Master Naturalist Jack Chiles will lead our Early Birding event, weather permitting. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. Meet at the Visitor Center, bird and walk about two miles, at a slow pace, on Harris Creek Trail and return in time for the Second Saturday program. |
Please Register (Optional) so we may inform you via email of unforseen changes/cancellations. |
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, Connie Koval, Jeff Gladden, Nancy Miller, Cindy Steele Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley Acting Deputy Refuge Manager: Mary Maddux Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation6465 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!