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Bats of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
By Dr. Bryon Clark, Mammalogist
Big Brown Bat found in the Visitor Center at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Spencer Beard, Refuge Visitor Services Manager
There is limited information known about the bat species that may occur on, or fly over, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (HNWR) so the Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (FOH) is initiating a new program to better understand these nocturnal mammals in North Texas. This initiative was made possible when the FOH innovative project titled “Music of the Night: Citizen Science Bioacoustic Monitoring at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge” was selected as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious O’Brien Prize from the National Wildlife Refuge Association. We are truly grateful and honored for this generous support and excited about the new service opportunities it provides.
The $6,000 grant award will fund the purchase of state-of-the-art bioacoustic monitors and associated equipment. These tools will allow FOH volunteers to survey for bat species across the more than11,000 acres of HNWR and nearby areas. The data collected will help address key gaps in understanding local bat populations and contribute to conservation efforts across the region.
This project is about more than just collecting data. It is also about building connections between people, science, and conservation. FOH aims to educate and inspire community members to assist with this project as citizen scientists. By engaging the public in citizen science opportunities, hands-on learning, and outreach events, we hope to foster a better understanding and appreciation of bats that will help dispel some of the misconceptions about this vitally important group of mammals.  Brazilian Free-tailed Bat from Bryan County, Oklahoma (photo by Bryon Clark) Bats represent the second largest group of mammals globally (rodents are the most diverse) with more than 1,400 species. Despite their abundance and ecological importance, bats are seldom seen by people and are often misunderstood due to their nocturnal and reclusive nature. Even though over thirty bat species occur in Texas, limited information exists about those inhabiting or flying over HNWR. Based on The Mammals of Texas, Online Edition and personal records, species that may be encountered in Grayson County and on HNWR include: • Previously Reported: Big Brown Bat, Evening Bat, Brazilian Free-tailed Bat, Eastern Red Bat • Likely Present: Hoary Bat, Silver-haired Bat, Seminole Bat, Tricolored Bat • Possibly Present: Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat, Southeastern Myotis, Cave Myotis • Rare but Documented Nearby: Northern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat |
This project has the potential to fill in knowledge gaps and increase public awareness of the vital role bats play in the environment. For example, the Northern Long-eared Bat, Tricolored Bat, and Little Brown Bat, have suffered dramatic population declines across the United States, primarily due to white-nose syndrome, habitat loss, and habitat degradation. Data will be shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that will assist in management decisions and conservation planning. This project will contribute to ongoing conservation efforts to protect these and other bat species for future generations. |
FOH volunteers will use two types of bioacoustic monitors (commonly referred to as bat detectors) to survey for the presence of bat species on HNWR. Although bats make audible sounds that humans can hear, bat detectors record the ultrasonic echolocation calls of bats that humans cannot hear. Given the nocturnal habits of bats, these monitors can record the presence of bats that may otherwise go unnoticed. The Song Meter Mini Bat 2 detector will be set in place for four consecutive nights and passively record bat calls from dusk until dawn each day in suitable habitats across the refuge. These recordings can then be processed using software that identifies the species by its distinctive ultrasonic calls. An Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro detector will be used for real-time identification of bat species while volunteers are conducting fieldwork. This device connects to a “smart phone” and uses an app to identify the species of bat. In addition to bioacoustic monitoring, trained volunteers will use mist nets to safely capture and examine bats at several locations on HNWR. Data collected will include species identification, sex, reproductive status, weight, and various body measurements. Each bat will be photographed and promptly released, with efforts made to reduce handling time and stress. |
Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.) and a mist net (photos by Bryon Clark). |
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The simultaneous use of the two types of bat detectors and mist netting will improve the accuracy and confidence of our conclusions about bats found on the refuge. The identification of a mist netted bat will be compared to its identification from the bioacoustic recordings for the same time period. This will potentially provide a three-way validation of the bat and help differentiate spectrograms of the various species. With the rapid growth of the human population in North Texas, it has become increasingly more difficult to find areas with minimal light pollution. This degradation of the natural night sky may influence the behavior and activity patterns of nocturnal mammals, including bats. To establish a baseline of night sky quality and assess for potential changes over time, ambient light levels will be monitored using a light meter during the mist netting surveys for bats on HNWR. Bats may fly many miles each night. To expand the survey area, FOH will seek permission from local landowners to conduct bioacoustic surveys for bats on nearby private lands and provide customized bat reports and ecological insights in return. This community-based science initiative is expected to foster greater public engagement and awareness of local wildlife. The data collected during this project will provide insights into the bats of HNWR and North Texas. Just as important, this initiative will also serve as a catalyst for the Friends to initiate new ways to serve and inspire the public by providing new environmental education activities both on and off the refuge. Stay updated about upcoming events by visiting the Friends of Hagerman Website or following us on Friends of Hagerman Facebook (Facebook account required.) We welcome your involvement—please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. |
Refuge Update: Though refuge lands are open from sunrise until sunset every day of the year, the Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday 9-4, Sunday 1-5. It's a great time to visit the refuge!
Note: Dove, squirrel, and rabbit hunting will be open in the Meyers, Godwin, and Big Mineral Unit (off Keys Road, south of the railroad tracks only) September 1-30. The units will remain open to everyone but be aware that hunters may be present.
All hiking trails are clear, all roads are open. |
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Upcoming Activities:
The Friends of Hagerman is Hosting 16 Family Friendly Events in September! |
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Second Saturday: The Eastern Bluebird with Kathy Whaley Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Visitor Center
In this presentation about Eastern Bluebirds the focus will be on the general biology and conservation efforts of this iconic species. The presentation will highlight the bird's behavior, nesting habits, diet, and historic plight. Additionally, it will address the challenges faced by Eastern Bluebirds such as habitat loss and competition for nesting sites with invasive species including house sparrows. Conservation efforts, including the installation of bluebird boxes and monitoring program, will be explored to show how volunteers may contribute to the protection and recovery of this species. Plan to arrive early--this session usually fills all seats. Photo by Donnie Simmons |
Hagerman Bluebirds: 2025 Season Highlights By John Van Bebber
Photo by Brenda Kay Edwards The Nest Box Program continues to thrive at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, offering volunteers and visitors a front-row seat to the nesting habits of our local bird species. With 46 monitored boxes and a growing community of citizen scientists, 2025 brought exciting developments—including our first live-streamed nest. Established in 2010, the Nest Box Program at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge has grown into one of our most beloved initiatives. Every year since 2019, we have actively monitored 46 nest boxes across two trails: 15 on Raasch Trail and 31 on Harris Creek Trail. Monitoring Season The season begins in late February and typically concludes by August. Monitoring is conducted weekly by volunteer teams of two. Each nest box is checked for:
All observations are recorded using the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch protocol. NestWatch supports hundreds of similar programs nationwide. While our primary focus remains the Eastern Bluebird, we also frequently observe Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Bewick’s Wrens, and Tufted Titmice—and for the first time this year, a Tree Swallow! Volunteer Opportunities We’re always eager to welcome new volunteers who are available on Wednesdays or Thursdays from March through July. Annual training—mandatory for both new and returning monitors—is held in January. Contact Us to learn how to get involved. Nest Camera Box Debut The 2024 season introduced our new Nest Camera box, located east of the overflow parking area. With a clear line of sight to the Visitor Center’s radio antenna and ideal open habitat for Bluebirds, the camera streamed live footage to the lobby monitor. On June 10, we documented a complete Bluebird nest, allowing staff, volunteers, and visitors to witness egg laying, incubation, hatching, and feeding of four live young. Adopt-A-Nestbox Program Thanks to continued support, our Adopt-a-Box program remains a vital funding source. Each season requires repairs and replacements—new boxes, poles, clamps, predator guards, and camera equipment. Sponsorships for the 2026 season are on sale now. Each box costs $50, with a limit of three boxes per donor. We offer 45 boxes for adoption, and every donor helps sustain the entire program—not just their individual box. Adopt-A-Nestbox Today! On sale now--the perfect Christmas Gift! |
2025 Nesting Data Summary We track 7 bird species at Hagerman and 4 activity categories:
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Bluebird Fledging Totals & Habitat Recovery Over the past seven seasons (2019–2025), with 46 nest boxes monitored each year, the total number of Eastern Bluebirds fledged at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge has varied significantly: |
In February 2021, a severe cold spell brought temperatures down to -2°F, causing widespread damage to bird populations across the region. According to Refuge Manager Kathy Whaley, it may take five years or more to return to our average seasonal fledging totals for Bluebirds. Despite the challenges, 2025 has been a strong season—especially considering the flood damage earlier in the year. Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge experienced a major |
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flood event, but the natural habitat has shown remarkable recovery. Volunteers played a vital role in clearing debris left behind as lake levels receded, helping restore nesting areas for our avian residents. Want to learn more about Bluebirds and other bird species? Here are some excellent resources for bird research and citizen science: |
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Free Field Trips for Schools and Youth Groups
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Sea Glass in the Nature Nook The sea glass artists have been busy! It is never too early to shop for Christmas! |
*New* Virtual Tour of Harris Creek Trail
Harris Creek is especially beautiful this time of year! Take a moment to enjoy the scenery by exploring our new video virtual tour of Harris Creek.
Plant of the Month: Texas Rock Rose Pavonia lasiopetala By Cindy Steele Also Known As: Texas Rock Rose, Rock Rose, Rose Pavonia, Rose Mallow, Pavonia Malvaceae (Mallow Family) If you’ve ever walked along a rocky roadside or across a sun-soaked pasture in Central or South Texas, chances are you’ve seen the Texas Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala). This hardy native perennial is a true treasure of the Texas landscape, bringing beauty, resilience, and ecological value to gardens and wild spaces alike. Appearance and Bloom The Texas Rock Rose lives up to its name, producing delicate hibiscus-like flowers in soft to vibrant shades of pink. Each bloom typically measures 1–2 inches across, opening wide in the morning sun and closing by evening. The petals are papery and heart-shaped, often with a darker pink or magenta center that draws the eye. The plant itself is a small, bushy shrub, usually 2–3 feet tall and just as wide. Its leaves are gray-green, slightly fuzzy, and shaped like a lopsided heart. Together, the foliage and blossoms give the Rock Rose a graceful, airy look—perfect for softening the edges of a rocky garden or blending into a naturalistic setting. The real showstopper, however, is the flowers of this plant. They are brilliant rose-pink in color and feature five petals that open fully during the day and close at night. Each bloom is short-lived, but the plant produces them in profusion continuously from spring until the first freeze in the fall. This provides a long season of beautiful, colorful flowers. Habitat and Range The Texas Rock Rose plant is native to Texas and northeastern Mexico, thriving in the limestone soils and dry conditions of the Hill Country, as well as other parts of the Lone Star State and increasingly in our North Texas area. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and manages drought like a champion. Though delicate in appearance, this plant is tough... Continue Reading |
Birding with Jack: The Weekly Bird Census
Left to Right: Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles and Terry Goode 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.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron and a Wood Duck It was a great break from the heat for today's census with the temperature in the sixties for much of the morning . Some good news is that the irrigation pump is up and running and the dried out marshes are being flooded. The marsh by the entrance to Plover Pad is now completely flooded and Mineral Marsh should be in good shape by tomorrow. Shorebirds were scarce but we saw about 50 Least Sandpipers. We also saw 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers In the field to the north of Silliman road along with Killdeer. We did hear an Upland Sandpiper calling. At Deaver Pond we had a Belted Kingfisher, a Green Heron and a couple of Red-headed Woodpeckers. We had close up looks at a Yellow-crowned Night Heron in a ditch by Meadow Pond. At a residence near Basin Springs on the far west side of the refuge we saw over a dozen hummingbirds including both Ruby-throated and Black-chinned Hummingbirds and an Inca Dove.. We saw a Greater Roadrunner on the road to Sandy Point as well as a late season Mississippi Kite. We saw a couple of Pileated Woodpeckers, an Orchard Oriole and a Baltimore Oriole. We finished the day with 58 species. Today's photos, a Yellow-crowned Night Heron and a Wood Duck. See the rest of Jack's notes and the latest Bird Census Results |
The Friends of Hagerman NWR Photo Club Meeting Saturday, September 20 at 1:00 PM
Larry grew up in Utah, he has degrees in biology and biomedical sciences, and have enjoyed a lifelong interest in being outdoors and nature photography. Since retiring from an academic career, he has been spending more and more time pursuing wildlife with his camera. In this presentation he will be discussing the equipment and techniques he has used to photograph in locations from Alaska to Africa. Photo by Larry Petterborg |
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The 2025 Photo Contest is On!! |
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Join Cindy Steele for: The Refuge Rocks! Programs for Children Registration Required Future events
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| Puddles' Craft Corner By Cindy Steele, Master Naturalist |
Owls…They’re a Hoot!
Welcome back to Puddles’ Craft Corner. Whooooo doesn’t love owls? They’re mysterious, nocturnal hunters who have captured our imaginations for centuries. Owls are beautiful, mysterious, intriguing, fierce, spooky, and cute. If you’ve ever spied this nighttime animal, you know that the owl has big, curious eyes and makes a unique “hoot” sound. Owls are most famous for their wise appearance, because their intelligent eyes glow and they stare so intensely. You may be surprised to learn that owls are very interesting creatures, and there is a lot to learn about their mysterious ways. They do a lot more than just hoot all night long!
Where Do Owls Live? Owls can be found in all different types of habitats, and every continent except Antarctica contains species of owls. You can find owls in many habitats, from forests and deserts to mountains and prairies. It all depends on which species of owl you’re talking about, and there are a staggering 150 documented species of owls (possibly even more, depending on how you classify the different species).
19 species of owls are found in North America, including the following: barn owl, burrowing owl, eastern screech owl, great grey owl, spotted owl, and the long-eared owl, among many others. Eight species of owls have been documented at Hagerman NWR, but you’re most likely to see the species that actually nest on the refuge. They are the eastern screech owl, the great horned owl, the barn owl, and the barred owl. No matter where the owl lives, one thing is certain – they are most active at night. Unlike us humans, owls are nocturnal and prefer to stay awake and be active at night. This is why a person who enjoys staying up late at night is...
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! |
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Group Tram Tour |
Butterfly Garden Walks
Registration is not necessary |
Pipevine Swallowtail (right) by Laurie Sheppard |
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 with Jack Chiles |
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Master Naturalist Jack Chiles 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, Brenda Kay Edwards, Adam Graham, Donnie Simmons, Cindy Steele, John Van Bebber Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley Acting Deputy Refuge Manager: Mary Maddux Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard Editors: Patricia Crain, Laurie SheppardFriends of Hagerman NWR Foundation 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092 Phone: 903-786-2826 Join us on Facebook: |
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 info@friendsofhagerman.org to your contacts to ensure delivery of registration confirmations, account information and the Featherless Flyer
See you at the refuge!