When the sun goes down, a whole new world wakes up! Young nature explorers are invited to uncover the secrets of nighttime wildlife at Creatures of the Night, a hands-on children’s program at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. This interactive class will take place Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10:00–11:30 a.m. and is designed for youth ages 5–10.

During this fun and educational program, participants will learn about nocturnal animals and how they are specially adapted to survive and thrive in the dark. Through an age-appropriate mini lesson, kids will explore how animals use keen senses, camouflage, and clever behaviors to navigate the nighttime world.

The program includes:

• A lively lesson about nocturnal animals and their adaptations
• A creative, night-themed craft to take home
• A hands-on activity that brings nighttime wildlife to life

Blending science, creativity, and discovery, Creatures of the Night invites kids to see nature from a whole new perspective—even in the dark!

Program Details:

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.

Ages: 5–10

Location: Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Space is limited. Advance registration is encouraged.  Register on the Friends of Hagerman website.

Grab your curiosity and sharpen your senses—the night is full of wonders waiting to be discovered! 

The Little Sit Sunrise Bird Count

Meet Jack and 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, the public is invited to join a group of dedicated birders 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 begins 30 minutes before sunrise (sunrise is 7:19 AM) and 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 location of the Little Sit is technically in Sadler, TX, but it is within the boundaries of Hagerman NWR.

Location: H Pad, Sadler, Texas 76264 

GPS Coordinates: 

33.734961, -96.780582

Directions from the Hagerman Visitor Center:

• Take a right (north) out of the Visitor Center parking lot road.
• At the bottom of the hill, take a left onto the gravel road (Wildlife Dr).
• The road will end at the Big Mineral Day Use Area. Take a right onto Bennett Lane.
• You will cross a bridge over Big Mineral Creek, then go over a low water crossing.
• There will be several small gravel roads going off to the right.
• Stay on Bennett until the road forks, then go right.
• When the road forks again, go right.
• Take the gravel road to the right marked “H” (you will see oil tanks on the NE corner) and go all the way to the end.

Free and open to the public.  Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.

Join us with membership today to receive the monthly Featherless Flyer newsletter with nature articles, program information, updated events and other important refuge information.

                      

Step back in time with Mary Istre, Deputy Refuge Manager, as she explores 80 years of conservation at Hagerman NWR. Using historic photographs and engaging stories, Mary will bring to life the people, decisions, and defining moments that shaped the refuge’s landscapes and wildlife. You’ll also discover how lessons from the past continue to guide conservation efforts today—and why this history matters more than ever.

Event Leader: Nancy Miller

photoclub@friendsofhagerman.org

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.

Free and open to the public.  Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.

Join John Baecht of Bois d’Arc Kingdom to explore these remarkable trees—once a food source for Columbian mammoths, which reached up to 9 tons, and giant ground sloths, weighing around 2 tons. As these bus-sized animals climbed, pushed, and snapped branches to reach the fruit, the tree adapted to withstand immense pressure.

Today, Bois d’Arc is one of the strongest, most elastic, and most rot-resistant woods in North America—a living legacy of its prehistoric past.

The natural range of Bois d’Arc shrank dramatically during the advancing ice age. After the ice retreated, the tree found a refuge in the Red River Valley of present-day Texas and Oklahoma. There, the Caddo Nation developed a thriving trade network, exchanging Bois d’Arc wood—especially prized for bows—across vast distances, reaching as far as the Great Lakes region. These bows were so valuable that they were often worth more than a horse.

As settlers moved into North Texas, they encountered dense groves of Bois d’Arc along creeks and rivers, sometimes making passage difficult. Wagon makers in towns like Bonham quickly recognized the value of this durable wood, crafting long-lasting wagons from it. During the hedge-planting boom of the 1850s, Bois d’Arc seeds became extremely valuable—at times even compared to gold by weight—because the trees were widely used for living fences.

With the arrival of barbed wire, Bois d’Arc became the preferred material for fence posts due to its remarkable resistance to rot. It played a key role in shaping agriculture and settlement across the region. For decades, its wood was also used in structural supports for buildings throughout Texas.

Bois d’Arc—known scientifically as Maclura pomifera—continues to attract interest today. Its oils contain powerful antioxidants, and researchers are studying its potential benefits for health and medicine.

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.