BirdFest Texoma Registration Begins January 1

Registration for BirdFest Texoma will begin on January 1, 2013 for events set to take place at Hagerman NWR May 3 -5, 2013.  The birding and nature festival will feature nationally known author/illustrator/birding expert, David Allen Sibley, as well as Jonathan Wood’s Raptor Project, photography workshops, three days of field trips, nature walks and talks, programs for children and more.  Descriptions of all events can be found on the Friends website.

Both online and standard registration forms will be available.  For online registration or to download forms, see birdfesttexoma.org; registration forms will also be available in the Nature Nook at the Refuge.  There is a fee for field trips, the photography events and Sibley’s keynote presentation; however many events are free of charge, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors.  Members of the Friends of Hagerman will note special member pricing on paid events.  Most events have a limited number of spaces available so early registration is advised, for both paid and free events. 

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge offers 11,000 acres of wildlife habitat.  The Refuge is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, Texas.  For more information, use CONTACT or call the Refuge, 903 786 2826.

Twelve Days of Winter at the Refuge

Depending on the particular calendar you follow, tomorrow is either the first day of winter or the last day for this world!  In the first case, today's post is a revision of last year's parody on the Twelve Day's of Christmas, with a Hagerman NWR twist.

On the first day of winter, at Hagerman we see - the C&E out touring.

On the second day of winter, at Hagerman we see - two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the third day of winter, at Hagerman we see - three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the fourth day of winter, at Hagerman we see - four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the fifth day of winter, at Hagerman we see - five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the sixth day of winter, at Hagerman we see - six leaping deer, five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the seventh day of winter, at Hagerman we see - seven shovelers shoveling, six leaping deer, five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring

On the eighth day of winter, at Hagerman we see - eight birders watching, seven shovelers shoveling, six leaping deer, five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the ninth day of winter, at Hagerman we see -  nine sparrows “chipping”, eight birders watching, seven shovelers shoveling, six leaping deer, five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the tenth day of winter, at Hagerman we see - ten pintails dabbling,  nine sparrows “chipping”, eight birders watching, seven shovelers shoveling, six leaping deer, five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the eleventh day of winter, at Hagerman we see - eleven geese-a-browsing, ten pintails dabbling,  nine sparrows “chipping”, eight birders watching, seven shovelers shoveling, six leaping deer, five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

On the twelfth day of winter, at Hagerman we see - twelve bluebird boxes, eleven geese-a-browsing, ten pintails dabbling,  nine sparrows “chipping”, eight birders watching, seven shovelers shoveling, six leaping deer, five hiking trails, four anglers angling, three eagles soaring, two canoeists paddling and the C&E out touring.

Christmas Bird Count at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

On Saturday, December 15, at Hagerman NWR, volunteers will take part in a 113 year-old tradition established by the Audubon Society that has become known as the Christmas Bird Count.  Now hundreds of such counts, each one based in a 15-mile diameter circle, take place between  December 14  and January 5 each year. 

The task of the counters is to find and identify all the birds they can within the designated circle. The data collected in all these censuses have become one of the world’s most complete and long-term data sets on bird populations.  Most  Christmas counts cover the daylight hours and include a few hours of owl searching at night.

People of all interest levels have an opportunity to contribute to this grand project.  Being a birding expert is not necessary to aiding in the effort, according to Dr. Wayne Meyer, organizer for the Hagerman NWR Count, who says “The Hagerman NWR Christmas count circle is divided into six areas and each area has a designated leader who is skilled in identification.  What each team leader needs most is extra eyes to find the birds.  You don’t even have to commit to an all day search.  Several of our areas are small enough to be covered in half a day.” 

According to Audubon’s annual CBC report, American Birds, the 112th count was a record setter, with a total of 2248 CBC’s held in the US and Canada.  Texas was third in number of CBC’s, behind California and Ontario; there were 109 Texas counts, with Matagorda Island - Mad Island Marsh turning in the highest bird count number of species, 244.  HNWR reported 119 species.  Last year, Austin, Texas set the record for the number of CBC participants, 116! 

Two of the Austin counters were participants who counted birds at their home feeders, another way people can contribute.  Any bird feeders within the count circle can be included in the day’s tally.  If you live in the Hagerman Circle but don’t wish to spend part of your day in the field you can be a feeder watcher.  The Hagerman NWR Circle includes the communities of Pottsboro, Sherwood Shores, Cedar Mills, Mill Creek, Locust, Fink, Tanglewood, Georgetown, Preston and Gordonville.

For those unable to make it to Hagerman on December 15, or who do not live in the Hagerman NWR Circle, Audubon offers links to Counts across the country. 

All who want to participate at Hagerman NWR are to meet at the Friends of Hagerman building (formerly known as AV Center) at 7:00 AM to divide into teams.  Anyone interested in searching for owls is welcome to meet Dr. Meyer at the Friends building at 4:45 AM.  The Friends of Hagerman NWR will be hosting a compilation social at 5:00 PM, complete with supper!  All participants are encouraged to attend as the day’s results are added up.  Dr. Meyer says, “If you want to participate you can just show up on count day, but it would help my planning if you let me know you’ll be coming ahead of time.  You can send a message via comments or CONTACT  on the Friends website."

Hagerman NWR is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, Texas, 75092, on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma.

River Otters at Hagerman NWR

By Skeeter and Marolyn Lasuzzo
Photography by Skeeter Lasuzzo

I packed into the back country at Hagerman Wildlife Refuge, carrying my photo equipment, in an attempt to photograph White-tail deer bucks.  After spending the early morning in a portable blind photographing deer, I made my way to the edge of a creek to look for deer trails and signs.  I noticed some movement in the water which turned out to be River Otters.  As I set up my camera, the otters swam toward me and climbed onto a log to get a better view of me.  After determining that I was harmless, the two otters calmly swam off to the river bank up stream and went about their normal behavior.  I observed the Otters for awhile before I hiked out.  I saw the Otters for the next couple of days before they disappeared.

River Otters, members of the weasel family, have long bodies, with short legs and web feet.  They have long tails, one third the length of the body, which they use to maneuver in the water. They eat mostly fish, but also eat freshwater mussels, crabs, crayfish, amphibians, bird eggs, fish eggs and small mammals.

River Otters use dens for giving birth and protection from the elements.  Den sites are usually located at waters edge, above the normal water level, quite often in the banks of a creek, but sometimes in piles of driftwood or hollow trees.  Otters will usually have two to four pups that are born between March and May.  The basic family unit is a mother with her pups, while the male otters live solitary lives except during mating season.  River Otters are safe in the water, but can fall prey to bobcats, coyotes and cougars while on land.  

Otters spend the day looking for food and engaging in what looks like play.  Otters rely on play to learn survival skills.  "Slides", which are located on river banks, are a common sign of river otter presence and are used by the otters to "slide" into the water. They will also travel on land between creeks and ponds. 

I have been photographing in Hagerman NWR two to four times a week for years and have seen very few River Otters.  In the last couple of years, I have seen otters on three occasions.  Maybe they are becoming more plentiful.  Let's hope so.