You are Invited to Spring Fest on May 14th! In Memoriam: A Tribute to Karl Haller Mother's Day in the Butterfly Garden Photo Club: Tips for Better Photos (Live!) Birding with Jack: The Weekly Bird Census | Join Us for Second Saturday: Wildflowers Make a Tram Tour Reservation Today! Refuge Rocks Is Back! Puddles' Craft Corner Sign your kids up for Nature Ology! Subscribe to the Featherless Flyer |
You are invited to: SPRING FEST AT HAGERMAN REFUGE The celebration will take place on May 14, 2022 Cell phone users please rotate screen 8 am: Early Birding with Jack Chiles 10 am: Second Saturday: Wildflowers of North Texas 12 pm: Grand Opening/Dedication: The Education Pavilion 1 pm: Snakes, Visitor Center Lecture Room 2 pm: Migratory Birds, Visitor Center 3 pm: Hagerman and You, Visitor Center 4 pm: Mammals of Grayson County, Visitor Center 1:45 / 3:00 / 4:15 / 5:30 pm Planetarium Craft, Education Pavilion Seed Bomb Craft under the carport 1:45 - 5:30 pm: Tram Tours and Butterfly Garden Walks 7:00 pm Dark Sky Presentation with Bryon Clark--Visitor Center 8:15 pm A Look at the Night Sky |
In Memoriam... A Tribute to Karl Haller by Jack Chiles On Good Friday, April 15, 2022, Karl Haller peacefully departed this life at the age of 105 1/2 years. He was a weekly volunteer at Hagerman NWR for more than 50 years leading a weekly bird census group at the refuge, documenting and counting all of the birds seen and entering those figures into a database kept by him in the form of notebooks that were later entered into the eBird database at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Karl was a valuable asset to the refuge and to the National Wildlife Service and for that he was recognized as national volunteer of the year in 1995. There was a celebration for him at the refuge in March of 2013 where he was presented a beautiful plaque for his 50 years of bird surveys. He drove the van and conducted the surveys into his late nineties. Karl retired as a major from the United States Air Force in 1965 making Sherman his and his wife and son’s home. He was employed in September of 1965 as a member of the adjunct faculty and staff at Austin College for 33 years until his retirement in 1998. He served as an instructor in biology and taxidermy, a biology preparator and curator, and a stockroom/laboratory coordinator. During his life he prepared thousands of bird study skins many of which are now at several major universities. Karl’s life was full of accomplishments, including discovering new species of spiders, and a new species of warbler, Sutton’s Warbler, a hybrid. But to me his greatest accomplishment was to Texas birding. He was a mentor to many a birder. He paid special attention to young birders and took much pleasure in watching them progress in their knowledge of birds. Many of those young people have gone on to be lifelong birders. I can speak personally to the enrichment of my life, having had him as a personal friend and mentor for more than thirty years. I was always amazed at his vast knowledge of nature, especially of birds and his cheerful willingness to impart that knowledge to those around him. So when you walk Haller’s Haven Trail, named for him, give thought to the “Birdman of Hagerman”. He will be missed and fondly remembered by many. |
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Early Birding with Jack May 14th, 8:00 am, Meet at the Visitor Center Master Naturalist Jack Chiles and Ornithologist Dr. Wayne Meyer will lead our Early Birding event, weather permitting. Enjoy an easy walk along Harris Creek Trail, learning about the birds in the area. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. Meet at the Visitor Center and return in time for the Second Saturday program. Registration is appreciated so we may notify you of unforeseen changes/cancellation. |
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Second Saturday: Wildflowers with Carol Clark May 14th at 10 am; Visitor Center Lecture Room Registration Appreciated but Not Required
This program is a visual tour of North Central Texas wildflowers through the whole blooming season. It features many old favorites and some less familiar blooms. See the beautiful flowers that used to carpet our region in abundance, and that we still have the chance to preserve for the future.
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Carol Clark is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Texas Master Naturalist, a Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, and longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She and her husband own and operate Clark Haven, a wildlife preserve and custom wildflower seed business in Cooke County. Carol has spent much of her life exploring the great outdoors. Her favorite things to do are teaching about pollinators and native plants, leading discovery walks in local natural areas, and finding and photographing interesting plants.
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Snakes! May 14th at 1 pm; Visitor Center Lecture Room
Although very often misunderstood and feared creatures, did you know that snakes play a very important role in our ecosystem? Stop by the lake-side patio at the visitor center to meet a local snake expert and view live specimens. Learn more about the species of snakes we have in the north Texas area and key features to look for that may help determine whether a snake you see in the wild is non-venomous (most of them) or venomous. A very tame Corn Snake will be available for anyone who would like to have an up-close encounter or “take a photo with a snake”. Photo by Don Champlin |
Migratory Birds with Intern Robert Garza Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day on May 14th at 2 pm; Visitor Center Lecture Room
Photo by Robert Garza Migratory birds face many obstacles for survival including impacts from light pollution which attracts and disorients birds that migrate at night. Learn about this this artificial threat and how YOU can help mitigate it at home and in your community. The presentation will also provide information on the Eastern Bluebird, Northern Flicker, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. |
Hagerman and You with Laurie Sheppard May 14th at 3 pm; Visitor Center Lecture Room
"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in... where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul" ---John Muir Come hear about opportunities to learn and grow, places to find peace and solitude, and activities to strengthen your body and mind. American Pelicans by Laurie Sheppard |
Mammals of Grayson County with Bryon Clark May 14 at 4 pm; Visitor Center Lecture Room
Visitors to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge may see the large, more charismatic mammals such as white-tailed deer and coyotes but may be unaware of the diversity of mammals that occur in the region. This presentation will discuss the more than 60 species of mammals that occur in northeast Texas. |
Dark Sky Presentation with Bryon Clark May 14th at 7 pm in the visitor center
The sun is setting and the sky is becoming dark--well at least somewhat. Have you looked up at the night sky lately? How does it compare to the night sky when you were growing up? This presentation will first discuss the different types of light pollution and the negative consequences of the increasing amount of artificial light at night on the environment. It will conclude with actions that can be taken, both personally and collectively, to contribute to the ongoing global movement to reduce light pollution. |
Photos by Pam Rendall-Bass |
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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. 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. |
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| 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.
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See Jack's notes and latest Census Results |
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. |
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Upcoming events
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The Refuge Rocks! |
| Puddles' Craft Corner Bluebonnets! By Cindy Steele, Master Naturalist |
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It’s Bluebonnet Time! When the Texas wildflowers blanket the fields across the state, Texans have never been able to stay indoors. We’re always thinking of ways to get outside. This is especially true when our beloved bluebonnets begin to paint our fields and roadways this beautiful shade of blue. Texans have a deep love for bluebonnets, and this is seen every year when families load up in the car and head on road trips across the state to take family photos in fields of bluebonnets. We are so proud of our bluebonnets here in the Lone Star State we officially made the... |
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Shop Amazon Smile to Support the Friends of Hagerman
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. |
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| Thank You To Our Contributors: Jack Chiles, Laurie Sheppard, Pam Rendall-Bass, Cindy Steele, Cathy Van Bebber, Thomas Judd Editor: Patricia Crain Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley Deputy Refuge Manager: Paul Balkenbush Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092 Phone: 903-786-2826 Subscribe to the Featherless Flyer www.facebook.com/FOHNWR |
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.
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! |