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The Sherman-Hagerman Bird Festival is a multi-location, multi-activity celebration of our feathered friends in nature and art as spring migration is in full swing at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Texoma. Events will take place at both the Refuge and throughout the Downtown Sherman Cultural District. Hagerman NWR serves as refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and is well known for the diversity of birds that can be found here. In all, 338 species have been counted, including American white pelicans, warblers, hummingbirds, and nesting tanagers, painted and indigo buntings, and nesting bald eagles. Hagerman activities run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include bird walks, tram tours, children’s activities, three lectures, and book signing with Sam Crowe – Photographic Guide to the Birds of North America. Sherman Cultural District will complement Hagerman activities by celebrating all things bird in fine art and avian-themed offerings starting at 8 a.m. Come for Breakfast With the Birds, then visit shops and restaurants for the Birds of a Feather Art Walk, gallery shows, fantasy birdhouse competition, bird merchandise, culinary specials and drink flights to finish the evening. Sherman Public Library will host family activities and bird talks. Five original bird sculptures will be dedicated, part of a new public art collection honoring Sherman’s unique connection to Hagerman NWR. The festival is organized by the Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and Sherman Cultural District.
Additional Festival Details and descriptions of festival lectures. |
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Upcoming Activities:
The Friends of Hagerman is Hosting 17 Family Friendly Events in May! Donate to help fund programs like these! |
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Second Saturday: Initial Results of Bat Monitoring on Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and around Grayson County, Texas With Bryon Clark and Margaret Avard Saturday, May 9 at 10:00 AM in the Visitor Center
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat from Bryan County, Oklahoma (photo by Bryon Clark) The Friends of Hagerman (FOH) National Wildlife Refuge was awarded the O’Brien Prize by the National Wildlife Refuge Association in July 2025 for their application titled “Music of the Night: Citizen Science Bioacoustic Bat Monitoring at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.” The primary goal of this project is to help address key gaps in understanding local bat species and their distribution on the refuge and in Grayson County, Texas. Such information may then be used to inform refuge management decisions and contribute to broader conservation efforts for bats across the region. Another major goal of the project is public engagement. Through hands-on educational programs and citizen science opportunities, this initiative aims to inspire both youth and adults to learn more about these often-misunderstood mammals and, hopefully, become bat advocates. Bryon Clark and Margaret Avard serve as the project leaders and will provide an update on this initiative, discuss challenges encountered, and share preliminary results from acoustic bat monitoring conducted on the refuge and throughout Grayson County, Texas. To date, analysis of the acoustic data suggests the probable presence of at least eight bat species across area.
Bryon has been interested in bats for almost 5o years and completed his master’s thesis and a post-doctoral experience on bat ecology. Margaret developed her interest in bats through the Texas Master Naturalists and listening to Bryon’s presentations. Together, they enjoy camping and often take their personal bat detectors along to record bat calls; needless to say, this activity has sparked some interesting comments from other campers. They have conducted acoustic bat monitoring in Texas, Iowa, West Virginia, Nevada, Utah, and California. The O’Brien Prize awarded by the National Association of Wildlife Refuges has expanded opportunities for Bryon and Margaret to share their enthusiasm for bats with others. As project leaders for the Bat Monitoring Project at Hagerman, they hope to recruit others to become interested in bats and assist with bat monitoring efforts on the refuge and their own property. Bats play a critical role in the environment, and these collective efforts will help promote a greater understanding of this remarkable group of mammals. Future Second Saturday Programs |
Bryon Clark and Margaret Avard are both nature enthusiasts and live southeast of Sherman, Texas. Their son, Gerald, is a master’s student at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California Santa Barbara. After retiring from Southeastern Oklahoma State, both have become active members of the Friends of Hagerman NWR and are certified Texas Master Naturalists. Dr. Avard served as a Professor of Earth, Space, and Environmental Sciences and Dr. Clark was a Professor of Biological Sciences before moving to administration and retiring as the Interim President of the University.
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The Next Bat Monitoring Workshop is Thursday, May 14
If you really wanted to attend the first bat monitoring workshop hosted by Friends of Hagerman (FOH) in April but missed it, you have another opportunity to participate in this unique experience! |
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a one-hour lecture, followed by a field session from 7:30 – 11:00 p.m. The lecture content will be the same as the first session but with luck, there will be more bat activity during the field portion. Those who attended the first workshop are welcome to return, especially for the field experience. For information about the workshop or bats of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, visit: HNWR Bats. |
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The first workshop was held on April 16th and twenty people attended. While bat activity was limited during the field session, attendees shared positive feedback with the presenters. Many participants also signed up to have a detector placed on their property in the future to see what bats may be flying around their house. During the field session, attendees used Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro detectors paired with smart phones to listen to bat calls in real time.
The Bat Crew set up the nets for the Bat workshop Several participants arrived early to help set up mist nets across a refuge road. Two nets (each approximately 7’ x 30’) had been sewn together and were suspended between two 20’ tall poles using ropes and pulleys. Two single-tiered mist nets also were set up. The nets were quite successful in capturing June Beetles and other flying insects. |
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| The highlight of the evening came at 10:16 p.m. when a female Eastern Red Bat was mist netted; however, all but one of the attendees had left by that time. The bat was quickly removed, measured, photographed, and released, flying off immediately into the night unharmed. This workshop is part of FOH’s grant-funded project “Music of the Night: Citizen Science Bioacoustic Bat Monitoring at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge” supported by the National Wildlife Refuge Association through its O’Brien Prize. If you are interested, be sure to register soon for the May 14th workshop! |
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Welcome April and Brian Crain April and Brian Crain, volunteers at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, recently completed U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Heavy Equipment Training (Tier 1 & 2) and ATV/ORUV certification at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. They trained on agricultural and heavy construction equipment and off-road vehicles—building skills that strengthen habitat, maintenance, and conservation work at Hagerman. Email info@friendsofhagerman.org to join the Work Crew! |
Butterfly Garden Walks
Registration is not necessary |
Pipevine Swallowtail (right) by Laurie Sheppard |
The Weekly Bird Census
Left to Right: Wayne Meyer, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles, and Mike Petrick 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 the rest of Jack's notes and the latest Bird Census Results |
The Friends of Hagerman NWR Photo Club Presents: Photo Opportunities at the Refuge
Learn the many photography opportunities at the refuge, where to find them and the best time to see them. May meeting has been rescheduled for May 2nd due to the Bird Festival during our normal meeting date of May 16th. Event Leader: Nancy Miller fohphotoclub@friendsofhagerman.org |
Nature'Ology is Saturday, June 6th! A free, full day of hands-on discovery all about nature—snakes, spiders, prairies, birds, and the water cycle! For ages 11-12 We’ll kick off the day with a guided nature hike, complete with loaner binoculars so every child can explore up close. Next, “The Snake Guy” of Grayson County will introduce his collection of live snakes, followed by a fascinating spider exhibit featuring hundreds of live specimens. Students will create their own terrariums and learn about prairie ecosystems with Texas Master Naturalists. Then it’s off to the Butterfly Garden, where they’ll learn about Monarch Butterflies. With plenty of opportunities to explore, get a little dirty, and learn by doing, this is a day kids won’t forget! Parents are welcome to drop off or stay for the day (a lawn chair is recommended). Either way, your child will head home happy, dirty, tired and with great memories and new knowledge about the natural world! Friends and siblings are welcome! If you would like to register more than one child, please revisit the form to register each child individually. Register For Nature'Ology Today! Hurry! Only 30 children accepted! |
| Calling all kids! This special Refuge Rocks event is for youth ages up to 16. We will be fishing from 9:00a.m. to 11:30a.m. and this is open to children ages 16 and under. With the help of volunteers, kids will be able to demonstrate their fishin' skills! Gear will be available for kids to check out and bait will be provided. No registration is required for this event, and you can come and go as you please. We'll also be providing a fishing-themed craft table. Registration is not necessary for this very special come-and-go event. |
The Refuge Rocks!
Nest Builders-Nature's Amazing Architects (Ages 5-10)
| Have you ever found a bird's nest while exploring outside? They are absolutely amazing. What makes it even more incredible is that these little creatures do it all with no hands! Join us at the education pavilion during this special Refuge Rocks program occurring during our day-long Birdfest celebration! Bird nests can be made of twigs, grass, plants, mud, spider silk, moss and almost any other materials birds can get their beaks on. Some birds, like eagles, build their nests high in the trees to keep them safe from predators. Other |
birds build their nests on the ground or in low shrubs. There are as many type of bird nests are there are types of birds! Come join us for a fun challenge.....can you build a nest using natural materials just like real birds do? NO GLUE OR TAPE ALLOWED! This "Make a Bird's Nest" project is a fun way to test out our creative building ideas and problem solving. This free nature activity is for youth ages 5-10. Registration required. |
Junior Ranger Program: Advanced and Intermediate
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| The Junior Ranger Pledge As a Junior Ranger at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, I pledge to protect outdoor creatures small, big and huge. To keep the water, air and land clean. To make enjoying nature a routine. I will share my new skills with family and friends. When people and nature work together, everybody wins! |
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Sponsors Enable the Friends to…
Join Today! Memberships available for $20 |
Come, Take a Tour on the Wildlife Explorer! Come join us for a ride on the Wildlife Explorer! Our new and beautiful tram is available for ninety-minute tours of Hagerman every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM, weather permitting. Our tours are as varied as our drivers. Each tram driver has her/his approach to the tour: you may learn about wildlife, birds, habitat, refuge history, photography, you name it! To paraphrase, “a Wildlife Explorer tour at Hagerman is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” But you know it’s going to be good! Come see us! Lots of stops for bird-watching and photography.
Register for a Tram Tour Today! |
Sunrise at the Little Sit by Laurie Sheppard | Photo by Cathy Van Bebber |
Meet Jack and the Bird Census Team and learn how to identify the birds of North Texas while enjoying 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 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. The First Saturday of every month, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise. |
Location: H Pad, Sadler, Texas 76264 (H Pad is in Sadler, but it is part of the refuge) GPS Coordinates: 33.734961, -96.780582
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Early Bird Walk |
Dr. Wayne Meyer, Ornithologist and Jack Chiles, Master Naturalist will lead our Early Birding event, weather permitting. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. Meet at the Visitor Center and return in time for the Second Saturday program. |
Please Register (Optional) so we may inform you via email of unforseen changes/cancellations.
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Do You Like to Work Outside? The Refuge Needs You! |
It takes a lot of people to have a beautiful garden! The Wednesday Garden Team Love to work with native plants and meet other gardeners? Come and help us add plants, weed and mulch our beautiful butterfly garden. Garden Team volunteers get first dibs on thinned native plants as well as access to seeds and cuttings for propagation. Gardeners meet on most Wednesdays, but times vary. Contact Us to subscribe to the volunteer garden team weekly email. Provide own tools and gloves. Minimum age 18, or 16 if accompanied by parent/volunteer. |
Mowing and Refuge Beautification: The Work Crew Do you enjoy working outside, mowing, sprucing up hiking trails, trimming and removing brush and general cleanup? Show your love for nature by joining the Outdoor Crew at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Outdoor Crew volunteers meet on the First Tuesday and Fourth Saturday of every month. Contact Us for exact times, dates and other details about joining the volunteer Work Crew. Scouts welcome! |
Visitor Center Volunteers Needed! |
Do you enjoy meeting all kinds of people from all over the world, and like-minded people in our area? If yes, consider joining our team of Visitor Center Volunteers. You will greet refuge guests, distribute maps and other refuge information, and make sales in the gift shop. Shifts available every day of the week: Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 12:30 to 4:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Training is provided. Contact Us if interested. |
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| Thank You To Our Contributors: Jack Chiles, Bryon Clark, Nancy Miller Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley Acting Deputy Refuge Manager: Mary Maddux Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092 Phone: 903-786-2826 Join us on Facebook: |
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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 info@friendsofhagerman.org to your contacts to ensure delivery of registration confirmations, account information and the Featherless Flyer
See you at the refuge!