Photos by Donnie Simmons

Join us for some citizen science to survey wildlife, and have a blast with your family and friends! 

The BioBlitz is a free, one-of-a-kind opportunity for families, students, and all nature-lovers to learn about plants and wildlife and help scientists survey them. Participants will team up with Texas Master Naturalists and other experts to search for and document as many plants and animals as possible at Hagerman National Wildlife refuge.

Why Participate in a BioBlitz?

If you’re reading this, you probably already know how fun and exciting it is to notice new or uncommon species around you. A BioBlitz feeds that sense of curiosity and discovery by encouraging people to observe everything around them, from the hawks to the millipedes. By dedicating some time to looking for new species, you’re also likely to learn about wildlife you didn’t even know about.

The BioBlitz is also a great opportunity for families to spend time together doing something out of the ordinary. No level of expertise is needed, which means family members of all ages can enjoy a day of exploring nature and the biodiversity in it.

Participating in the BioBlitz also contributes scientific data that are useful to scientists and conservationists working to study and protect our wonderful plants and wildlife.

Unable to participate in-person? No problem, you can use iNaturalist to observe species anywhere in Grayson County! Simply record your findings to iNaturalist.

We hope you will join us on Saturday, September 7th, 6:30 AM to 1:00 PM!

This is a come-and-go event. We recommend bringing insect repellant and water, the Visitor Center has a bottle refill station. There is no food for sale at the refuge.

6:30 AM Meet at H-Pad for The Little Sit Bird Count

Meet Jack and the Bird Census Team while learning how to identify the birds of North Texas, and enjoy 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 record the birds 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. All results will be included in the BioBlitz.

8:30 AM Meet at the Visitor Center, then Dispurse to Find and Record Wildlife

1:00 PM Meet at the Visitor Center to tally our findings on iNaturalist and see who could find the most species as a fun challenge!

Participate at the Refuge Or at Home:

Simply download the iNaturalist App and record your findings in Grayson County to the Hagerman NWR BioBlitz's Journal.  The SEEK App may prove helpful in identifying plants and wildlife to record during the BioBlitz, as it can be easier to use than iNaturalist.

Learn More about iNaturalist

This event is sponsored by Bluestem Master Naturalists in conjunction with the Texas Nature Trackers program