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Archery-only White-tailed Deer Hunts will occur on the refuge on 

November 7-9, 2026, (Saturday-Monday), Nov. 20-22  and Dec 4-6. Raasch and Haller's Haven Hiking Trails will remain open; Harris Creek, Big Mineral, and Sandy Units will be closed for each of the hunts.   More Information


The perfect Christmas gift for the bird Lover in your family:

The Adopt-A-Nestbox Sale

Is On Now!

Each year, the Friends of Hagerman invite the public to support the Eastern Bluebird population through our Adopt-A-Nestbox Program. By adopting a nestbox, you’ll help protect these beloved birds and enjoy a front-row seat to their nesting journey.

Throughout the nesting season, nestbox sponsors and their gift recipients receive weekly email updates featuring a photo from inside their nestbox and news of the birds’ progress—from the first twig to the day the young birds take flight.


As an adopter, you’ll have the opportunity to name your nestbox and visit it with your loved ones anytime along the easily accessible Raasch or Harris Creek hiking trails.

A nestbox adoption makes a wonderful

and meaningful Christmas gift!




A $50 donation per nestbox supports the care and maintenance of our impressive Bluebird Trail, which includes 45 nestboxes throughout the refuge.

Join us in helping Eastern Bluebirds thrive!

Adopt A Nestbox Today!

Bluebird nesting season normally begins in the beginning of March and continues until nearly the end of July every year.  For information about Eastern Bluebirds, enjoy this PDF version of The Second Saturday Eastern Bluebird Presentation  by Kathy Whaley, Refuge Manager.

Interested In providing a home for your local Bluebirds?

We sell entire Bluebird kits in the Nature Nook, complete with a pole and predator guard.  Check out Sialis.org for tips on nestbox construction, placement and monitoring.


Photo by Laurie Blankenship-Lawler

The Bluebird Nestbox Project

By Wes Crawford

The Nestbox Program has been a well-established volunteer activity of the Friends of Hagerman since 2013.  Every year volunteers are  monitoring nearly 50 nestboxes on Harris Creek and  Raasch Hiking Trails. 

Volunteers usually do box repair, relocations and cleaning during the off season from September through February.  Then, towards the end of February, nestbox monitors pair up and select the trails they prefer to monitor for the season.  The monitoring season begins in late February and ends in August. Based on scheduling, each team monitors about one time each month. Monitoring normally occurs on Wednesday or Thursday in the late morning or early afternoon.  Volunteers sometimes have to be flexible about their monitoring day due to weather or trail conditions. 

Monitors carefully open each box and note observations on the Cornell NestWatch data sheet. Some nestboxes have sponsors and a photo is taken.  Monitors will remove nests and clean the box once the chicks have fledged.  A designated volunteer enters the data for all of the nestboxes into the Cornell database for scientific monitoring and research.  Another volunteer takes the photos and prepares reports for the Adopt-A-Nestbox program sponsors.

There is nothing like the joy in seeing the royal blue male Eastern Bluebird on top of the nestbox or the female bravely huddled over her eggs or the site of the fully feathered young waiting for the queue to fledge.   One of our volunteer monitors this year was blessed by actually seeing a chick peck out of the egg.  


Photo by Larry Wecsler


 Photo by Bill Powell


Male Bluebird by Randall Patterson

Enjoy the Eastern Bluebirds At Home  

Nestboxes for Sale: $75

The Eastern Bluebird nesting season will begin soon!

Complete Kit Includes:

  • Bluebird nestbox with pole
  • Predator Guard

    Nestbox Only: $25.99

    Available in the Nature Nook while supplies last.

     

    Photo by Chris Balsamo

    Juvenile by Donnie Simmons


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    Events and activities hosted by the Friends of Hagerman are funded by donations and powered solely by volunteers.  There are no fees for admission to the refuge or parking. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year and you may drive on any road unless gated.

    6465 Refuge Road

    Sherman, TX 75092

                 

    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

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    See you at the refuge! 

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