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Save the Date! and Check here for updates and more information!

Join Us for

Mother's Day in

the Butterfly Garden

Bring Mom out to enjoy a stroll through the Butterfly Garden at Hagerman NWR.  Garden docents will be on hand to help identify the Texas native plants, flowers and butterflies in the garden. Use our close-focus butterfly binoculars to get a really CLOSE look.

Special activities for families:

A butterfly craft with Cindy Steele, scavenger hunts, the Metamorphosis Puppet will be available and more. Garden walks are Come and Go or Come and Stay. The garden is free of charge and open to the public during Refuge hours.  Mother's Day is May 8th, click here for details and more butterfly walks.

Photos by Laurie Sheppard

Refuge Update:

The visitor center is open Thursday through Saturday, 9-4, Sunday 1-5.  It's a great time to visit the refuge!


 A Fulvous Whistling-Duck

A Fulvous Whistling-Duck, a rarvisitor to the refuge made an appearance on 04-03-22, in Muleshoe Marsh.  



Upcoming Hunt Information, Closures and Applications

Spring Turkey April 22–24, 2022 

  • Harris Creek and Crow Hill trails will remain open, only Raasch and Meadow Pond trails are closed.
  • Two refuge boat ramps remain open
  • Big Mineral Day Use Area remains open
  • Auto Tour Route and Wildlife Drive remain open

Become a Visitor Center Volunteer! 


Visitor Center volunteers meet and greet visitors, and answer questions about what to see & do at the refuge, upcoming activities, and assist in our gift shop. Currently open Thursday - Saturday with 2 shifts available each day - 9AM to 12:30pm and 12:30pm to 4:00pm and Sunday is 1:00pm to 5:00pm. You can choose as little as one shift a month but once you're hooked, you'll likely want to volunteer more often. We'll train you - no worries! Volunteering is a great way to meet new people with similar interests. Contact us today, we'd love to hear from you!     

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Introducing Our Newest Monthly Event:

Click Here for details

Join the Bluestem Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists

Bluestem Master Naturalist field trip: collecting fossils to study

Did you know you can become a Certified Texas Master Naturalist for Grayson County?

Please visit our website to learn more about Bluestem Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist. Our 2022 training class will begin in August 2022. Please contact us for more information on how to become a Certified Texas Master Naturalist.

What is a Master Naturalist?

Nearly every state in the United States has a Master Naturalist Program that trains participants to be environmental stewards and, most importantly, how to teach stewardship to others. These programs are often hosted by universities, county extension offices and/or local environmental organizations. There are numerous reasons why becoming a Master Naturalist is a good...

Read More

Photo by Laurie Sheppard

Prescribed Burn in the Goode Unit of Hagerman NWR

On March 26th and 27th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North Texas / Oklahoma Zone Fire Team conducted a controlled burn on the Goode Unit of the Hagerman Wildlife Refuge.

The management objectives of this precribed burn were to:

  • Help control undesirable species such as eastern red cedar, winged elm, and honey locust. While we are not particularly fond of these species they are not invasive in Grayson County.
  • Assist with multi-faceted approach to restoring prairie habitats by reducing woody plant encroachment.
  • Reduce fuel load to minimize wildfire risk.

The refuge remained opened during the burn and the only trail affected was Hallers Haven Trail. 

Come, Take a Tour on the Wildlife Explorer!

Enjoy a ninety minute tram tour of Wildlife Drive aboard our open-air Wildlife Explorer.  Learn about the fascinating history of the displaced town of Hagerman while watching for an abundance of wildlife.

  • Lots of stops for bird-watching and photography.   
  • Guided tours are weather permitting and seating is limited. 
  • Standbys are accepted if space permits. 
  • Recommended for age 6 - adult. 
  • Bring your binoculars.*
  • Meet at the visitor center 15 minutes before departure. 
  • Free, funded by donations and powered by volunteers.

*Due to Covid, we can no longer lend binoculars.

Second Saturday:

The Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands

with Steve Goldsmith

Saturday,  April 9th, at 10:00 AM Online via ZOOM (Registration Required)

Nene, The State Bird of Hawaii by Steve Goldsmith

This presentation will address natural history of four of the Hawaiian Islands: Hawaii (the Big Island) Maui, Kauai, and Oahu. It will often be about specific localities, it will focus primarily on endemic and indigenous plants and animals, and will include information about trees and shrubs, birds, fish, and invertebrates. There will be some comparisons and contrasts between the islands, and something about geography, biogeography, and geology. There will be lots of images and strange names like ‘ahinahina, nene, i’iwi, and lauwiliwilinukunuku’oi’oi.


Dr. Steven Goldsmith is a Professor of Biology. He is a behavioral ecologist by training, and earned a PhD in behavior, ecology, and genetics at Arizona State University in 1985. His BS and MS degrees are from the University of Oklahoma, where he was a zoology major. Dr. Goldsmith joined the Austin College faculty in 1993, after teaching and doing administrative work at the University of Tulsa. He teaches Animal Behavior and Vertebrate Biology, and in January Term he has taught Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands and Desert Biology. Dr. Goldsmith served as Dean of Sciences and Chair of the biology department. Dr. Goldsmith is the Monroe D. “Bud” Bryant and Howard McCarley Professor of Biology.


Puddles' Craft Corner

Craft

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 4 billion years! Water is the most common substance on Earth. It takes up over two thirds of our planet’s surface...


Birding with Jack

Updated, Weekly Census Results

By Master Naturalist Jack Chiles, Mike Petrick and

Dr. Wayne Meyer (Pictured Right)



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.

 See Jack's notes and latest  Census Results       

Shop Amazon Smile to Support the Friends of Hagerman

Amazon SmileDid you know that you can support the Friends of Hagerman while shopping on Amazon? If you shop on Amazon using this Amazon Smile link, the Friends will receive 0.5% of eligible purchases. Simply go to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon account. Under "Your Account" select "Change your Amazon Smile Charity" and enter "Friends of Hagerman" in the charity search box. Once your results appear, select the Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Foundation. Every time you make a purchase on Amazon Smile, the Friends will get a donation. Thanks for helping us make Hagerman a great wildlife refuge!

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.


Thank You

To Our Contributors:

Jack Chiles,  Laurie Sheppard, Amber Grubb, Cindy Steele


Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley

Deputy Refuge Manager: Paul Balkenbush

Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard 

Editor: Patricia Crain


Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation

6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092

Phone: 903-786-2826

Contact Us  

friendsofhagerman.com

www.facebook.com/FOHNWR


Friends of Hagerman NWR

The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year, drive on any road unless gated.

Admission to the refuge, parking and most events/activities are funded by donations and powered by volunteers. 

6465 Refuge Road

Sherman, TX 75092

Contact Us


      

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 friendsofhagerman@gmail.com to your contacts to ensure delivery of registration confirmations, account information and the Featherless Flyer 

Special thanks to Nancy Miller for the amazing photo of the Visitor Center

See you at the refuge! 

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