Join the Refuge Cleanup!

Saturday, July 18 at 8:00 AM and every 3rd Saturday

Bring gloves, bucket and picker if you have them. We will meet at the VC where there may or may not be donuts.

These cleanups are always a blast, and many hands make light work. Bring a friend and let's keep the Refuge beautiful.  Scouts welcome! Ranger Beard will be on hand to sign for community service hours.

Photo by Pam Rendall-Bass

Many birds make their homes right on the ground—and they need our help! Young wildlife protectors are invited to learn how to spot, understand, and protect these often-overlooked birds at Guarding Ground-Nesting Birds, a hands-on children’s program at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. This interactive class will take place Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 10:00–11:30 a.m. and is designed for youth ages 5–10.

During this engaging program, participants will learn about ground-nesting birds found in our area and why nesting on the ground can be both clever—and risky. Through an age-appropriate mini lesson, kids will discover how these birds camouflage their nests, raise their young, and how people can help keep nesting areas safe.

The program includes:

• A fun, educational lesson about local ground-nesting birds
• A creative bird-themed craft to take home
• A hands-on activity that teaches simple ways to protect wildlife

This lively program blends science, conservation, and creativity —empowering young learners to become thoughtful stewards of nature.

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

Come learn how to watch your step, respect nesting spaces, and help protect birds where they live—right on the ground!

Refuge Rocks is a monthly youth nature program designed to spark curiosity and encourage children to connect with the natural world through fun, interactive learning experiences.

A photography workflow is essential for efficiently managing your images from the moment you capture them to the final step of sharing with others. We will look at the specific steps involved in a typical photography workflow as well as demonstrate them. We will also explore some of the features in Lightroom that can help make organizing and sharing your files much easier. A good workflow can allow you to spend less time on file handling and more time taking photos.

Enjoy the Butterfly Garden at Hagerman NWR

Garden docents will be on hand to help identify the Texas native plants and visiting butterflies.  Literature on plants and butterflies will be available. Special activities for families: scavenger hunts, the Metamorphosis Puppet and more. Registration is not necessary.

The garden is free of charge and open to the public from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.

Donations are accepted to support the Butterfly Garden, Garden Walks 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!

Photo of American Lady Butterfly by Laurie Sheppard

Dr. Thomas Stidham will talk about some of the different lines of evidence from anatomy, behavior, and the fossil record that demonstrates that birds are very diverse living dinosaurs.

Note: This is a repeat of the Bird Festival presentation on May 16, 2026.

Dr. Thomas Stidham is an evolutionary biologist and paleontologist who is fascinated by bird biology and evolution from their dinosaurian origins to today. During his career as a professor at Texas A&M University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and now Austin College, he has published scientific research on birds from the Arctic to the Antarctic. In addition to his main work on birds, Tom’s broad natural history perspective also has resulted in research publications on insects, mammals, reptiles, plants, and much more, including the discovery of new species in Texas and elsewhere. As a professor at Austin College, Dr. Stidham engages an active student body in exciting biology courses, mentors students in independent research projects in his lab, and continues his scientific collaborations around the globe.

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.