Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge -- The following is the Friends of Hagerman NWR Press Release. For more information about these events, please email: friendsofhagerman@gmail.com . All events are sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman and occur at the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center: 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092, unless stated otherwise.
Volunteers Needed:
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Greeters
Meet and greet people from all over the world while giving out information about the refuge and wildlife. Hand out maps and make sales in the Nature Nook. Come and join our team! For more information, please email friendsofhagerman@gmail.com.
Butterfly Garden
Like digging in your garden? Want to learn about native plants? Come join out Master Naturalists and Gardeners in maintaining the Butterfly Garden. For more information on volunteering, please email FriendsofHagerman@email.com for details.
Outdoor Crew
Do you enjoy working outside, mowing, sprucing up hiking trails, trimming and removing brush and general cleanup? Join the Outdoor Crew at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. The Outdoor Crew meets on the First Tuesday and Fourth Saturday of every month. Please email friendsofhagerman@gmail.com for details and to join our team. Scouts welcome!
Activities & Events:
The Little Sit: February7 at 7:00am Pad-H on the West side of Hagerman NWR
If you want to learn how to identify the birds of North Texas, the "Little Sit" is the perfect way to start.
Meet 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 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 etc 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.
We meet on the first Saturday of each month, 30 minutes before sunrise to watch the birds come into the water and begin to feed. We usually stay out for 2-3 hours, but you are welcome for all or part of the Sit.
For more information, a map to Pad-H and to register to receive event updates (registering is recommended to be informed of location change) https://www.friendsofhagerman.com/event-6486768?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=12/26/2025
Or email: friendsofhagerman@gmail.com.
GPS Coordinates to Pad-H: 33.734961, -96.780582
Free and open to the public, funded by donations.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAGERMAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE! GOING WILD FOR 80 YEARS!
Come help us celebrate the 80th birthday of Hagerman, February 14 at the Visitor’s Center:
Early Bird Guided Walk. Come walk on the wild side with Jack Chiles! Saturday February14h at 8am to 9:30am Come walk on the wild side and discover the birds of Hagerman!
Join Dr. Wayne Meyer, ornithologist, and Master Naturalist Jack Chiles for a guided bird walk along the Harris Creek Trail every Second Saturday, weather permitting. This easy, flat, well-maintained trail makes for a relaxed and enjoyable walk as you spot birds and other wildlife along the way. The group will return in time for the Second Saturday nature program.
Binoculars are available to borrow—just bring your curiosity and a bottle of water!
Registration is recommended to receive event updates and weather-related notifications. https://friendsofhagerman.com/event-6514688?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=2/18/2026
Free and open to the public. Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.
Second Saturday: Saturday February 14 at 10am.
Ferns of Texas – Why the Lone Star State is so Diverse with George Diggs. Texas has a surprising number of native ferns and lycophytes, 127 in all, the most of any state in the continental U.S. This is particularly unexpected given that most people associate ferns and related plants with humid, even tropical conditions, just the opposite of much of Texas.
Texas’ diverse species thrive under a variety of conditions including some that are very extreme—in crevices on huge exposed granite outcrops, underwater on the bottoms of ponds or lakes, inside cave entrances, and in the deserts of west Texas. One Texas species has leaves reaching nearly 13 feet in length, while another is a tiny floating aquatic often less than 1/2 inch in total size. Many Texas species occur nowhere else in the entire United States.
This talk will look broadly at Texas ferns, ranging from the swamp forests of East Texas, to the hidden canyons of the Edwards Plateau, and even to the high mountain “sky islands” of such places as Big Bend National Park. It will examine why Texas is such a special place for these fascinating plants.
George Diggs is an evolutionary biologist and botanist who has taught for more than 40 years at Austin College in Sherman, and a Research Associate at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.
His research interests include the plants of Texas, evolution as it relates to human health, the systematics of the Ericaceae (Blueberry Family), and biogeography.
He has co-authored four books, including The Ferns & Lycophytes of Texas, co-authored with Barney Lipscomb, and more than 30 scientific articles. In his research he has traveled to all seven continents. He helped found the Public Health program at Austin College and teaches Environmental and Evolutionary Health, including the impact of diet and toxins on human health.
Registration is not necessary—all are welcome! But if any of these programs spark your curiosity, signing up will get you a friendly reminder three days beforehand. You’ll also receive our once-a-month Featherless Flyer newsletter—no email overload, and it’s easy to unsubscribe anytime. https://friendsofhagerman.com/event-6514913?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=2/18/2026
Saturday, February 14 Coffee and Birthday Cake will be served 11:30 – Noon.
Saturday, February 14, 12 Noon: The History of Hagerman with Mary Estre, Hagerman Petroleum Specialist
Refuge Rocks for Kids: Saturday February 21 at 10am. Fossil Frenzy! A Hands-On Adventure into the Prehistoric Past (Ages 5-10). Young explorers are invited to travel millions of years back in time at Fossil Frenzy! an exciting hands-on children’s program. During Fossil Frenzy! participants will uncover the fascinating story of fossils and discover how ancient plants and animals—including tiny insects—were preserved in amber. Through an engaging mini-lesson, kids will learn how fossils form, what they tell us about life long ago, and why insects trapped in amber are such incredible time capsules from the prehistoric world.
The fun doesn’t stop there! Young paleontologists will:
• Explore real-world fossil concepts through age-appropriate learning
• Create a fossil-themed craft to take home
• Participate in an active, hands-on activity that brings ancient history to life
This lively program blends science, creativity, and discovery—perfect for curious minds who love dinosaurs, bugs, and all things ancient.
Free and open to the public, registration is required. https://www.friendsofhagerman.com/event-6490788?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=1/26/2026. Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.
Tram Tours every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm
Enjoy a 60 – 90-minute tour along Wildlife Drive at the Refuge. Enjoy learning about the history of the displaced town of Hagerman while watching for wildlife. Lots of stops for birdwatching and photography. Reservations required. Standbys are accepted if space permits. Free and open to the public. Funded by donations. https://www.friendsofhagerman.com/Tram-Tours.
Butterfly Garden Stroll: Discontinued until Spring 2025. The garden is free of charge and open to the public from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.
