7th Annual HNWR Nature Photography Contest

Best in Show and First Place, Wildlife, 2010 - Great Egret by Bill Adams

Have you heard this saying about visiting a refuge or wilderness area, "Leave only footprints, take only memories"?  Well, you can also take away "digitized memories" aka photographs.  And we know that photography at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most popular activities.  Now you have an opportunity to share some of your best efforts and compete for cash, ribbons and recognition as well in the 7th Annual Hagerman NWR Photography Contest.

First Place, Landscape, 2013 - Path, by Bob Brown

Ribbons will be awarded for First, Second, and Third place in each of four categories in 2 divisions. In addition, a cash prize of $50.00 will be awarded for First Place in each category and $100.00 for the single photo judged as Best of Show. Winners will be determined by a panel of judges, who will review the submitted photos without reference to entrant name.

First Place, Flora and Macro, 2012 - Leavenworth Eryngo by Laurie Lawler

The entry period for the contest begins on August 1 and runs through August 31. Photographers can enter photos in one of two divisions - Beginner/Intermediate, and Advanced, and in 4 different categories:

Wildlife – Animals and birds in their natural habitat.

Flora and Macro – Flowers, trees, and shrubs in their natural habitat. This category includes images of insects, plants, and animals taken with specialized macro equipment, settings or close up images taken with a telephoto lens.

Landscape – Expansive and dramatic views of the land and its features. Photographs in this category may include images of people enjoying the Refuge.

Artistic – Artistic compositions in nature, both natural and manipulated in post processing (black and white, infrared, stitched panoramas, multiple-exposure, digital manipulation). Photographs in this category may include images of people enjoying the Refuge.

Best in Show, First Place, Wildlife, 2011 - Great Blue Heron with "The Look"by Grace Haight

Photos entered must have been taken at Hagerman NWR within the past five years.  All entries including those sent by mail must be RECEIVED at Hagerman NWR by 4:00 pm on August 31. THERE WILL BE NO DEADLINE EXTENSION!   Entries can be dropped off or mailed to the Refuge at: 

Hagerman Photo Contest, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092-5817

First Place, Artistic, 2014 - Little Blue Heron by Lee Hatfield

Complete information about the photo contest rules, entry fees, entry form, and contest tips is available online (see sidebar on Club page). If you have questions regarding the photography contest, please contact us.

Best in Show and First Place, Landscape Division, 2015 - Magic Time, by Jesus Moreno

Odonata Second Saturday Topic

Banded Pennant, by Rick Cantu

Odonata will be the order of the day when Omar Bocanegra comes to  Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge for Second Saturday on July 12.  The program, Dragonflies and Damselflies,  will begin at 10 am in the Visitor Center meeting room at the Refuge.   Second Saturday nature programs are free of charge and open to the public.

According to Texas Parks & Wildlife's "Introduction to Dragonfly and Damselfly Watching", by Mark Klym and Mike Quinn: 

"Approximately 212 species of odonates have been taken in Texas. The
color and behavior of these beautiful creatures excites many people, both
amateur and professional, to study them more. Their gossamer jeweled
wings, and spectacular aerial displays are entrancing.

and further:

"North American damselfly diversity has been estimated at 128 species of
which 70 have been found in Texas.

Second Saturday will present the opportunity to learn about the many species of dragonflies and damselflies found in N. Texas and at Hagerman,  from Bocanegra, who  is a US Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species Coordinator.  He is based in the Arlington Field Office for US Fish and Wildlife.  He completed a Master’s thesis on the reproductive ecology of the Desert Firetail Damselfly.    Following a photo presentation and talk, Bocanegra will lead a short field trip on the Refuge.  Participants are advised to dress for walking through grass, and are welcome to bring cameras.

In addition, the Friends of Hagerman Nature Photo Club will meet at 12:30 pm on July 12 in the Audio Visual Classroom.  The club is open to anyone interested in nature photography.  Visitors may attend at no charge; there are nominal dues for membership.  There will be a program on re-sizing images for various applications and photo sharing; the theme for July is Butterflies.  For more information, contact fohphotoclub@gmail.com.

Hagerman NWR is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman.  For more information see www.friendsofhagerman.com or call the Refuge, 903 786 2826.

Second Saturday - Butterflies, Birds and More!

Monarch, by Nancy Miller

Here's your chance to learn the names and preferred habitat for the butterflies of North Texas, at the Second Saturday nature program at Hagerman NWR this week.  Dale Clark will be the speaker on Saturday, May 10; the free presentation will begin at 10 am in the Visitor Center meeting room and will conclude with a short field trip on the Refuge, weather permitting.

Sulphur on Gaillardia, by Emily Thomas

Clark is the founder of the Dallas County Lepidopterists’Society and owns Butterflies Unlimited, a butterfly farm, south of Dallas.  He provides over 50 species of live native Texas butterflies  and moths to zoos and scientific exhibits throughout the U. S.

Painted Bunting, by Laurie Lawler

Early-birds are invited to join Dr. Wayne Meyer for a guided bird walk at 8 am that same morning.  The walk will conclude in time for Clark’s presentation.  Walkers will meet Dr. Meyer at the Visitor Center and are invited to bring binoculars or may use loaners provided by the Friends of Hagerman; participation is free of charge.

Want to share your photos, swap photo tips and hone your skills?  The Nature Photography Club will meet at 12:30 pm on May 10, in the A/V Classroom, FOH Center, at the Refuge.  Anyone interested in nature photography is welcome.  Those attending may bring brown bag lunches; cookies and soft drinks will be available. There is no charge to visitors to the club meetings, and dues for members are nominal.

Open-air tram tours are offered at the Refuge at 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and 10 am on Wednesdays; reservations are recommended and may be made by calling the Refuge, 903 786 2826.  Tours are free; however donations to the tram fund are accepted.  This is a great way to view the shorebirds gathered in the marsh area off Wildlife Drive.

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman.  Tours, walks and other outdoor activities are all offered weather permitting. For more information, see friendsofhagerman.com/Activities or call the Refuge.

Hotfoot It to Hagerman!

After still another blast of winter, it’s time to at least THINK spring at Second Saturday at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge on March 8, when Mark Klym will speak on Hummingbirds - Myth, Magic and Mystery.   Klym will focus on urban myths about hummingbirds, where they might have come from and what mysteries remain surrounding those myths.  The program will begin at 10 am in the Visitor Center at the Refuge.

Klym is both coordinator of the Texas Wildscapes and Texas hummingbird Roundup programs at Texas Parks and Wildlife and Information Specialist for Wildlife Diversity.  He is coauthor of “Hummingbirds of Texas”, editor and publisher of the “Texas Hummer” and the “Eye on Nature” newsletters and editor/author of many other brochures and booklets published by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.   He  will sign books for sale following his program.

THEN - the Nature Photo Club will meet at the Refuge at 12:30 pm, in the Audio Visual Classroom of the FOH Center.  John S. Mead, Blue Lion Photography, will give a presentation on using the popular photo-editing software, Adobe Lightroom.  Visitors are welcome; the club is open to any photographer interested in nature photography, regardless of experience or type of photo equipment, and dues are nominal.  Those who wish to may bring a brown-bag lunch to enjoy during the meeting; drinks and cookies are provided.  Those attending will be asked to complete a short survey related to a Nature Photography Workshops to be given by Trey Neal and scheduled for May 17( there is a $10. fee for this event). For meeting details, contact fohphotoclub@gmail.com. 

• AND – next week – SPRING BREAK  Family Fun!  

• Guided walks, nature videos, twice-daily tram tours, drop-in for nature crafts!  

• See the Friends web calendar for schedule of activities each day, March 10 - 14.  

• A guided walk led by Texas Master Naturalist Jack Chiles is set for 9 am Saturday, March 15, and there will be the regular Saturday and Sunday tram tours, at 2 pm.

These programs are sponsored by Hagerman NWR and the Friends of Hagerman.  They are free of charge, and open to the public.  The Refuge is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, Texas, 75092.   For more information call the Refuge or see www.friendsofhagerman.com.

Second Saturday

This Saturday, September 14,  Rick Lynn, Grayson College geology instructor, will speak  at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, on Texoma Geology.  Millions of years ago the Texoma area was covered by salt water; here's an opportunity  learn how and why things have changed since pre-historic times to create present day Texoma.  This will the be the first time a geology program has been offered at Second Saturday since December, 2007. The meeting will begin at 10 am in the Visitor Center; Second Saturday programs are free and open to the public.

Also on September 14, the FOH Nature Photography Club will meet, at 12:30 pm in the FOH Center at the Refuge.  The  program will be presented by John S. Mead, Blue Lion Photography.  John  will be sharing experiences and images from his recent photo safari in South Africa.  The club meets bimonthly and is open to anyone interested in nature photography.  Visitors are welcomed, free of charge, there are nominal dues for membership.

For those who like to plan ahead, instead of Second Saturday in October, come on out to the Refuge for SUPER Saturday on October 12.  

Hagerman NWR is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, Texas, 75092, on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma.  For more information see friendsofhagerman.com or call the Refuge, 903 786 2826.