NOTICE: Weather permitting, the entire refuge will be CLOSED on Thursday, March 30, 2023, for an aerial feral hog control operation. |
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Second Saturday Presentations and Videos
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Future Programs: |
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The Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands with Steve Goldsmith Watch Video Presented Saturday, April 9th, 2022 via ZOOM
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. |
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March Second Saturday: Spring Bird Migration with Dr. Wayne Meyer Watch Video Presented Saturday, March 12, 2022 via Zoom Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, like many others, was established to provide a stop-over habitat for migratory birds. Certainly, many other species benefit from the refuge and at other times of the year, but migrating birds are the focus of much of the refuge’s work. So, it would be useful to understand what migration is, why it occurs and how birds do it. This month’s program will discuss all of these topics, and at just the right time of year, when birds are beginning to head north for the spring again. Dr. Wayne Meyer is an Associate Professor of the Biology department at Austin College, where he has been teaching for 28 years. He started birding at 13 in Connecticut. In 1993 he 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. |
February Second Saturday:
The Truth About True Bugs (Insect Order: Hemiptera)
with Loriann Garcia
Watch Video Presented February 12, 2022 via ZOOM
Photo by Alan Lusk
Did you know that all bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs? The "true bugs" the insect order Hemiptera is one of the most diverse groups of insects, with over 85,000 known species. They range from the tiny garden enemies, the aphids--to the giant predators, the giant water bugs--- to insects of our nightmares, the bed bugs. Come learn about the diversity and ecology of Hemiptera and their roles in natural ecosystems!
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January Second Saturday: The Eastern Bluebird with John Van Bebber Watch Video Presented January 8th, 2022
Photo by Laurie Blankenship-Lawler Bluebird nesting season begins in February! Join us to hear all about the beautiful Eastern Bluebird: John Van Bebber will focus on their characteristics and habits - both as individuals and mating couples. Learn about the Friends of Hagerman nestbox trails, including their history, statistics, and maintenance.
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December Second Saturday: Obstacles to Environmental Progress with Peter Schulze Watch Video Presented December 11th, 2021
Photo By Lois Lehman Why haven’t we solved our environmental problems when millions or even billions of people understand the necessity of doing so? Several reasons may immediately come to mind. Are those all the reasons? How do those obstacles block progress? How can they be dismantled or overcome? Professor Schulze plans to rely upon the group’s collective experience and insight for a discussion on the complete set of obstacles and what it would take to get better at overcoming them.
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Chickasaw History and Culture With Wilson Seawright, Archivist Watch Video Presented November 13th, 2021 Online via ZOOM
Wilson Seawright is an Archivist with the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma. He is a Graduate of East Central University in Ada, OK. with a BA in Education, and later with a Master’s degree in Human Service Administration. He is currently the Vice President & Past President of the Board of Trustees of the Greater SW Historic Museum in Ardmore, OK, and is the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Southwestern Historic Foundation.
Shorebirds with Dr. Wayne Meyer Watch Video October 9th, 2021 Online via ZOOM Every Spring and Autumn Hagerman NWR hosts thousands of shorebirds of 30 or more species. We’ll talk about the importance of shorebirds and the importance of NWRs to shorebirds. Then we’ll discuss some (certainly not all) of the different species that visit. We’ll learn how to tell the players apart, which isn’t always easy. Dr. Wayne Meyer is Associate Professor of the Biology department at Austin College, where he has been teaching for 28 years. He started birding at 13 in Connecticut. In 1993 he 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. |
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We will examine Chickasaw history and incorporate some comments relating to Native American influences in North Texas.
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The Friends of Hagerman Present: Fish Ecology in Lake Texoma Watch Video Presented Saturday, September 11, 2021
Have you ever wondered what fish call Lake Texoma home and why? Well, Tim Patton will be discussing several broad components that are necessary to understand a “bigger picture” of the factors that affect the ecology of a reservoir and the fishes that live there. He will cover watershed concepts, some basic limnology (the study of the biological, chemical, and physical features of lakes), and how these factors affect fish and fish interactions. Tim Patton has been a professor of Fisheries and Wildlife Science at Southeastern Oklahoma State University since 1998 and served as an adjunct faculty at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station. He received a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Arkansas Tech University, followed by an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Zoology and Physiology from the University of Wyoming. His research and teaching interests have been primarily in aquatic ecology, especially as it applies to the conservation of fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
Hummingbirds with Bert Garcia Watch Video Presented August 14th, 2021
"Crazy Trio" Photo by Bert Garcia Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures that you can observe in your backyard. Bert Garcia will share information about this marvel of nature. Hummingbirds are the smallest bird in the world, but they can perform amazing feats and have super qualities. Bert reveals where to find Hummingbirds and which ones are commonly seen in North Texas. He also provides best practices for attracting Hummingbirds to your backyard. Since 2006, Bert Garcia has been an active volunteer at Hagerman NWR. He is currently a member of the Friends of Hagerman NWR Board of Directors and chairs the Wildlife Explorer Tram committee. Bert’s support includes policy committee chair, former chair of the Bluebird nest box committee, and presenter for the speaker’s bureau. He enjoys physical fitness, fishing, golf and is an avid photographer and a Texas Master Naturalist.
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H. S. “Bert” Garcia, a native Texan, has been a licensed attorney in the State of Texas for 44 years and was a federal prosecutor for 24 of those years. He supervised the Sherman and Plano offices of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas for 19 years, was appointed United States Attorney for Puerto Rico by President G.W. Bush on June 3, 2002, and served in that capacity for 4 years before returning to Texas. Before law school, Bert served in the United States Marine Corps for almost 5 years, attained the rank of Captain, and earned his military wings. He flew A4 Skyhawk jets for the Marine Corps.
Watch Video Presented July 10, 2021
Rick grew up in Rockport, Texas. He has a Bachelors of Science in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University in Kingsville, Texas. Rick has worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for almost 30 years, at refuges in South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma. He spent over a decade as the assistant manager at Hagerman and has been the refuge manager at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge since 2016. Photo by Rick Cantu |
Many species of dragonflies and damselflies occur at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. In this program, Rick will discuss the species most likely to be found at the refuge, when the species are most likely to be encountered, and where he has seen the species on the refuge.
Watch Video Presented June 12th, 2021 Online via ZOOM
Two species of Titmice, Tufted Titmouse and Black-crested Titmouse, reside across much of Texas and have been suspected of interbreeding for nearly a century. In this talk Jennifer will discuss the historical and current understanding of their species status, her recent research related to their genetics, behavior, physiology, and morphology, as well as potential impacts to their species status in the face of climate change and urban development. Jennifer Cary Vaughn grew up in Dallas and earned her bachelor’s degree from Austin College, a master’s degree from Humboldt State University (Arcata, California), and her PhD in Wildlife from Texas A&M University. She is currently teaching Environmental Science and Biology at Collin College’s Frisco campus. |
Photo by Jennifer Vaughn |
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Watch Video Presented May 8th, 2021 Fifteen species of turtles potentially occur at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. In this talk, Mike will explain how to identify the turtles of Hagerman NWR, and he will talk |
Photo by Brenda K Loveless |
about the natural history of these turtles, including diet, reproduction, and geographic range. Michael B. Keck grew up in Fort Worth. He received his Ph.D. in Quantitative Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington. His main research interests were the ecology and physiology of snakes. Since 2001, he has been a biology professor at Grayson College.
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Watch Video Presented on April 10, 2021  Butterfly watching at Hagerman NWR and photographing these colorful, engaging insects have increased in popularity in recent years, primarily because of the installation of the Butterfly Garden. With the increased interest and added attention, since 2016, 30 new species have been verified as seen in Grayson County. One of these is the Frosted Elfin, a small spring butterfly that is being considered for listing as an Endangered Species. Come learn more about some of Grayson County’s less common butterflies and where you can see them (hint – many are not found in the Butterfly Garden).
Photo of American Lady Butterfly by Laurie Sheppard
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Watch Video Presented on March 13, 2021 Birds can be hard to find, especially when the trees start leafing out in the spring. However, the birds become very vocal during the breeding season, so if you can recognize the sounds you hear, it will give you a hint where to look for that singing bird. This month’s program will teach ways to learn bird songs emphasizing common local birds so you can get a head start on finding those pesky lurkers. This time around, we will work on the non-passerines, the so called non-song birds. Wayne Meyer is Associate Professor of Biology at Austin College, where he has been teaching for 27 years. He started birding at 13 in Connecticut. In 1993 he 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 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.
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Dr. Jessica Healy, PhD is an Associate Professor of Biology at Austin College in Sherman, TX. Originally from Iowa, Dr. Healy attended Colorado State University for graduate school, receiving a PhD in Zoology in 2010. Dr. Healy primarily studies the physiological ecology of hibernating species like ground squirrels, but as a Mammalogist has an interest in the natural history and ecology of all mammals. |
Which animal do you think has the greatest number of names (40 of them in English alone)? Here's a hint: painter...catamount...panther...puma...got it yet? It's the mountain lion (or cougar or 'mountain screamer' or 'ghost cat')! There are almost as many opinions about this big North American cat as there are names for it. Some people think of it as a vicious killer, others as a misunderstood loner. Either way, we can all agree that the cougar is one for the record books. With the largest range of any wild land animal in the Americas, cougars are found from the Yukon Territory in Canada to the southern tip of South America. Come hear Mammalogist Dr. Jessica Healy of Austin College talk about the biology, ecology, and natural history of the second biggest cat in North America.
Watch Video Presented on January 9, 2021 (Advance the video to 6:00 for the presentation) This presentation will cover bluebirds in general as well as the Friends of Hagerman bluebird program which monitors some 50 plus bluebird boxes during the bluebird nesting season beginning in late January and lasting through mid-August every year. Species specifics, habitat, range and many other characteristics of the Eastern Bluebird will be covered as will be the NestWatch nationwide program administered by Cornell Lab of Ornithology under which the Hagerman program is administered. Information, nestbox construction and placement will be covered. Photo: Bluebirds by Laurie Blankenship-Lawler |
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Watch Video Presented on November 14, 2020 |
As winter nears, the waterfowl for which Hagerman NWR was originally established are moving. In this presentation, you'll learn about all the geese and ducks that visit our refuge and why they come. Dr. Wayne Meyer is Associate Professor of the Biology department at Austin College, where he has been teaching for 27 years. He started birding at 13 in Connecticut. In 1993 he 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 Bryon Clark |
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Presented on October 10, 2020 |
 Did you know there are over 4000 native species of bees in the United States, around 700 of which are in Texas? From this webinar you will learn about not only about their diversity and ecology but also how to support native bee populations. Photo by Jeffrey Gladden |
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Watch Video Presented September 12, 2020 |
Dr. Doug Wood is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and has taught 
there since 2001. He originally hails from Lawrence, Kansas, but his academic wanderings earned him his BA in Biology from Boston University, MS in Zoology from Eastern Illinois University, and Ph.D. in Forestry and Wildlife Ecology from Mississippi State University. Currently, Dr. Wood teaches a wide variety of classes in the wildlife and zoology fields including Ornithology, Field Ornithology, Zoology, Mammalogy, Wildlife Management, Conservation of Natural Resources, and Bioethics. Dr. Wood’s specialty is Ornithology and he has authored or co-authored 50+ research papers on a wide variety of topics including brood parasitism, stopover ecology of migrant birds, and the ecology of cavity nesting species ranging from Red-cockaded Woodpeckers to Prothonotary Warblers to Tree Swallows, plus whatever his graduate students wish to study. Dr. Wood is an avid birder and amateur photographer; he has birded in >30 countries prior to the Covid. Photo: Banded Broadbill By Doug Wood |
Dr. Doug Wood’s fascinating audiovisual presentation will cover Dr. Wood’s birding trip to Malaysia and Borneo during Summer 2019. He will show photos of birds, mammals, reptiles, habitat, and more from his trip. Dr. Wood will include discussion about Malaysia and Borneo with regards to conservation issues, animal behavior, and global birding.
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Watch Video Presented August 8, 2020 |
Owls--birds of mystery--how much do you know about them? There are a number of myths accepted by lots of people that actually aren’t true. There are also a lot of things that people don’t realize about them. Come learn the truths and untruths about owls, then learn about the owls we have in Texoma and how to attract them. Dr. Wayne Meyer is Associate Professor of the Biology department at Austin College, where he has been teaching for 27 years. He started birding at 13 in Connecticut. In 1993 he 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 Laurie Blankenship Lawler |
Watch Video Presented on July 11, 2020 |
The Biology, Behaviors, an Integrated Pest Management of the Brown Recluse Spider. |
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 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!