Arriving Daily! Geese at Hagerman NWR

Perusing the history scrapbook at the Refuge, we found that in promoting the establishment of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, a Mr. K. F. MacDonald, from the USFWS Regional Office in Albuquerque, was quoted, in late 1946, as saying that many waterfowl would make their winter home at Hagerman now, instead of continuing on to the Texas Gulf Coast ..."Hagerman would reduce the waterfowl invasion of the coast area where damage is caused to rice crops". 

To attract  geese to the newly established refuge, by December of that year, twenty-one wild geese - 18 Canada and 3 Snow - had been captured elsewhere and, with their wings clipped, placed in a two-acre pen, as "decoys".

Today, greening fields of wheat are beckoning to the migratory geese, inviting them to spend the winter here.  The management goal has been to provide 300 acres of wheat; this year, due to depredation by army worms,  much replanting has taken place in the hope of creating adequate feeding grounds, and new acreage is also being planted.  Providing food also keeps the birds from foraging in farmer’s fields. Historically, waste grain from agricultural fields was the primary food source for migratory geese, but more efficient harvesting leaves less food available in the field. Without Hagerman management, there would not be enough food energy to sustain the numbers of geese over-wintering here in north Texas.

Geese in Field, by Bill Powell

This month the great flocks of waterfowl are  arriving at Hagerman Wildlife Refuge via the Central Flyway, to find food, shelter and protection for the winter. Waterfowl are the Order Anderiformes, Family Anatidae. Geese are the Subfamily Anserinae. Geese are heavier and have longer necks than ducks. Their short legs are farther forward than those of ducks; an adaptation for more efficient grazing since they are terrestrial feeders.

Gaggle of Geese, by Ron M. Varley

Geese have broad, round tipped bills and feed on grains, seeds, aquatic plants and young grasses. They thrive in the wheat fields over the winter at Hagerman. The geese migration is best known for the large number of birds migrating and for the loud, noisy communities that spend the winter here.

Male and female geese look identical. They fly with deep, powerful wing beats. 
In autumn,  listen for the noisy birds migrating and look for the V formations and long undulating lines. Some 7,500 - 10,000 geese will winter on the refuge feeding on the green wheat shoots and aquatic plants. Rested and refueled, they return north along the Central Flyway to nest in the Arctic again next summer.  The birds spend half the year in migration, approximate three months coming and three months going.

Geese in Flight by Skip Stevens

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are the most widespread geese in North America with a black head and neck, white breast and chin strap and characteristic honk, bark or cackle, and were once the "big flock" at Hagerman, but starting in the mid 1980's, the Snow Geese have become the most abundant Hagerman winter residents.  In general, Canada Geese are larger than the Snow Geese that now  migrate  to Hagerman in great numbers along with even somewhat smaller Ross’s Geese (Chen rossii).  Hagerman also has some Greater White Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons), brownish geese with  white faces and orange legs.

Greater White-fronted Geese, Ross's Goose, by Carl Hill

Snow Geese are white with black wing tips.  Ross’s Geese, also white, and Snows are difficult to distinguish by size when in a large mixed flock.   Distinguishing marks are on the head.  Look for the shape of the head and length of the bill.  Snow Geese have a long tapered bill, with a dark line between the upper and lower bill, called a “grin patch”, and sloping foreheads.  The bill of the Ross’s  is shorter or stubbier and lacks the “grin patch”; the head is more round, with a steeper forehead.  Ross’s are becoming increasing more common winter residents and mix well with Snow Geese.

Perfect Two-point, by Bert Garcia

"Geese at Hagerman" will be the topic for Youth FIRST, the free nature activity program for youngsters age 4 - 7 AND 8 - 12,  at the Refuge, on Saturday, December 3.  Interested parents and grandparents can register the children online or by calling the Refuge, 903 786 2826.

ED Note: Adapted from an article prepared by Helen Petre that appeared in the Featherless Flyer, November, 2009.

Workamper Travel Adventures

How many national wildlife refuges have you visited? A special presentation is planned for Saturday, November 12, at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, when we will enjoy virtual travel to a number of other refuges and recreation areas in the U.S., thanks to workampers Carol and Bill Powell and Barry and Lynn Burkhardt.

According to Wikipedia, “workamping”, a contraction of "work camping" is a form of RV camping involving singles, couples or families who work part-time or full-time and exchange volunteer work for RV-camping privileges.  There are many settings for workamping, national and state parks and other public recreation lands, private RV campgrounds, etc.

Bill and Carol Powell started their workamping travels in October, 2003,  at Cibola NWR, in Arizona. Since then they have been at Great Bay, New Hampshire; Mattamaskeet, North Carolina; Lower Suwanee, Florida Panther, Merritt Island, all in Florida; Mackay Island, North Carolina; and in Texas, Hagerman and Anahuac. They also volunteered for TPWD at Sabine National Battlefield in Sabine, Texas.  Carol and Bill are now veterans at Hagerman NWR, spending each fall at the Refuge since 2009. They also returned in spring, 2013, to assist with BirdFest Texoma.

Barry and Lynn Burkhardt entered retirement five years ago and began their "legacy" work as full-time RV volunteers. Their experiences include two summers with the Corp of Engineers in Branson, Missouri, at Table Rock Dam visitors center, and two seasons with the Georgia State Park system at Highland Walk Golf course. The 2013 winter was their first experience with a national wildlife refuge, in Anahuac Texas. They worked with Bill and Carol Powell who extended an invitation to apply at Hagerman NWR, and will return  for their third stint at HNWR, in January, 2017. 

NOTE: at 10 am, Saturday, November 12, winners in the 2016 HNWR Nature Photography Contest will be announced and awards presented, then the regular program will begin.

New County Record Species in Butterfly Garden

Text and Photos by Laurie Sheppard

The Butterfly Garden at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge has been growing and maturing under the watchful eye and loving labor of the Friends of Hagerman’s volunteers.  Every Wednesday morning a dedicated group gathers to weed, plant, trim, and transplant, and together they have created a welcoming haven for resident and transient butterflies.  It’s also a peaceful place just to sit and enjoy or to search out species to add to your butterfly life list.  Yes, butterfly watchers are just as fanatical as birders in seeking out new species.  Photographers are also loving the opportunity for getting great close-ups of the many different butterflies.

Mallow Scrub-hairstreak: smaller and browner than common
Gray Hairstreak and  has dark spots circled in white
near the leading edge of the hindwing.

During the month of October, 44 species of butterflies were seen and documented at the refuge and most of those visited the butterfly garden.  Of the 44, five were new county records according to the Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) project, a group of volunteer naturalists who keep and maintain reference data relating to all Lepidoptera.  To put that number in perspective, only 73 species of butterflies have ever been seen in Grayson County. 

Ceraunus Blue: tiny, gray under and lavender above (in flight),
no tail,  lines on forewing and hindwing are widely bordered in white

So how do we identify and submit a new county record?  I’m sure you’ve played the game “Can you spot the differences?”  That’s exactly what it’s like trying to locate and identify new butterfly species for our county.

Tawny-edged skipper: dark brown skipper with gold or tawny
orange leading edges; above has white spots on forewing and
tawny orange patch in the center of the hindwing

Each butterfly species has a unique size, color, pattern, and behavior that are well documented.  They range from as small as a shirt button to as large as a saucer.  Many have similar coloring with only slight pattern differences.  Identifying them requires a very close look.  Photographing the butterfly from every angle is critical to proving the identification.  A good field guide will help you narrow down the options and zero in on the correct ID.

Brazilian Skipper: very large skipper with brown wings and
3-4 white spots on  hindwing - flies only early morning and
near dusk; in flight, it looks similar to a bumblebee

Using your pictures of the butterfly, first, try to determine which family group the butterfly is in.  Is it tiny and triangular?  It’s probably a Hairstreak or a Blue.  Is it all or mostly white or yellow?  Check the Whites and Sulphurs family.  Next, look at the size and compare it to a butterfly you know.  Is it smaller or larger?  Look at the predominant color and then the pattern of lines and spots on the side of the wings the butterfly shows you.  Some will keep their wings folded and you will only see the bottom of their wings, while others will open fully to show you the beauty on top of their wings.  Don’t forget to check the color or pattern on the butterfly’s body and the shape and color of the antennae – those can provide clues as well.

Dorantes Longtail: a dark skipper with a long brown tail and heavily patterned
under wing with a broad brown line that is not smoothly continuous, especially on the forewing

Once you’ve narrowed it down and think you have a good ID, go to www.butterfliesandmoths.org.  It’s easy to create a profile and log in.  Click on “Get Involved” and follow the link to submit a sighting.  The online submission form will ask you the date you saw the butterfly, what you think it might be, and allow you to upload a photo or two.  It will also ask you to be specific about where you saw the butterfly.  If you type “Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge” in the Search Address window, the map will zoom in on the butterfly garden.  Finally, select United States for Region and then Texas and Grayson County from the lists.  Click on Save and an email will be sent to you thanking you for the submission.  Usually you will get a follow-up email in a few days with the reviewer’s confirmed identification.

Keep your eyes open and you may find the next county record in our Butterfly Garden!

Grow a Pollinator Garden

Fall is one of the best times to start a garden in Texas, and here are easy steps to creating your own pollinator garden, from the National Wildlife Refuge Association.

See Your Pollinator Garden Grow

One of the best ways you can help monarch butterflies and other pollinators is to plant a pollinator garden – in your yard, behind your school or church, on your business property or even in a pot for your front steps. A simple, native flower garden helps pollinators stay healthy – and it’s pretty.

In addition to nectar from flowers, monarch butterflies need milkweed to survive. So if your milkweed leaves have been chomped, don’t worry. The monarchs have been around!

Get Started

Research what varieties of milkweed and wildflowers are native to your area. Here’s a great website to launch your research: http://www.wildflower.org/

What you’ll need

• A yard, raised bed or some flower pots
• Garden tools to break the soil or build a raised bed
• Extra dirt and mulch
• Native milkweed and nectar plants

Seven easy steps

1. Choose your location: Gardens should be planted in sunny spots and protected from the wind. 
2. Look at your soil: Break ground to see the consistency of the soil in your yard. Soil may influence the kinds of plants you can grow or may require special considerations. If your soil type doesn’t match the plants you’d like to plant, consider building a raised bed or using flower pots.
3. Prep your soil: If you’re planting in your yard, remove the lawn and current plant cover and rake the soil. Additional dirt can help and is necessary for raised beds and flower pots.
4. Choose your plants: Buy native and local plants and milkweed. Native plants are ideal because they require less maintenance and tend to be heartier.
• Choose plants that have not been treated with pesticides, insecticides or neonicotinoids.
• Plant perennials to ensure your plants come back each year and don’t require a lot of maintenance.
• Choose a diversity of plants that bloom throughout the seasons to ensure pollinators benefit in the spring, summer and fall. This will also ensure that your garden is bright and colorful for months!
5. Choosing seeds or small plants: Small plants that have already started growing in a nursery are simple to plant and handle in a small space. If you’d like to use seeds, plan to plant in spring or fall, giving the seeds time to germinate. Seeds can also be best if you are planting a very large garden because they are less costly. Water your seeds even before you see plants.
6. Plant your flowers and milkweed: For small plants, dig holes just big enough for the root system. Cover the roots with dirt and reinforce with dirt or straw mulch to reduce weed growth. For seeding, spread seeds across the freshly prepared garden and cover them with dirt. Consider adding some flat rocks so butterflies can bask in the sun,
7. Wait, watch, water and weed: It may take some time, but you will eventually see butterflies and other pollinators enjoying your garden. Weed and water your garden to keep it healthy.

Help track monarch movements, milkweed growth and monarch life stages by reporting your sightings at http://journeynorth.org/monarch/. For more information, go online to the Monarch Joint Venture: http://www.monarchjointventure.org/get-involved/create-habitat-for-monarchs/

Milkweed, pictured above,  is not a weed. These beautiful wildflowers are the only source of food for monarch caterpillars. Plant milkweed that is native to your area to attract all pollinators. Photo above, by Joanna Gilkeson/USFWS.  Shown below, Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa,  a milkweed growing  in the Butterfly Garden at Hagerman NWR.

Native wildflower gardens add color to your garden and help bumblebees and butterflies. This purple coneflower, shown above,  attracted both bumblebees and a crab spider. Photo above by Jim Hudgins/USFWS

Red-tailed Hawks

USFWS Bird Fact Sheet

Photo by Mark Bohn/USFWS

The most common North American hawk, the red-tailed hawk lives in virtually every state in the continental United States, in all kinds of habitats from deserts, prairies, and pastures to open forests and cityscapes.

Most red-tailed hawks stay in the same territory year-round. Birds that summer in the Northern Great Plains migrate to the southern U.S. for the winter.  Red-tailed hawks nest at Hagerman NWR, according to the Birds Checklist publication.

The red-tailed hawk’s raspy scream is so dramatic that Hollywood directors use it on soundtracks as the “voice” of an eagle, falcon or other fierce raptor.

Red-tailed Hawk in Flight at HNWR by Carl Hill

Though their wingspan may be as much as 4½ feet, red-tailed hawks are amazingly lightweight. A large adult may weigh just 3½ pounds.

Instead of plunging from a great height, red-tailed hawks swoop steadily towards their prey, striking with legs outstretched. They sometimes hunt in pairs. A male and a female hawk may take up positions on opposite sides of a tree trunk to capture a squirrel.

•The oldest known red-tailed hawk lived to age 28 years, 10 months

Monarchs at HNWR Now

Monarchs on Frostweed in butterfly Garden, by Bill Powell

Monarch butterflies are taking center stage at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge these days as large numbers are seen nectaring, "fattening" up as they journey to Mexico for the winter.  Photographers are having a field day in the Butterfly Garden, which is living up to its designation as a Monarch Waystation,  finding monarchs galore on the Frostweed and Baccharis planted there and blooming just in time for the migration.  North American monarchs are the only butterflies that make such a  journey, which the World Wildlife Federation describes as:

... a marvelous migratory phenomenon. They travel between 1,200 and 2,800 miles or more from the United States and Canada to central Mexican forests. There the butterflies hibernate in the mountain forests, where a less extreme climate provides them a better chance to survive.

Also from WWF,

The monarch butterfly is known by scientists as Danaus plexippus, which in Greek literally means "sleepy transformation." The name evokes the species' ability to hibernate and metamorphize.

From National Geographic:

Butterflies that emerge from chrysalides (pupa state) in late summer and early fall are different from those that do so during the longer days and warmer weather of summer. These monarchs are born to fly, and know because of the changing weather that they must prepare for their lengthy journey.

Only monarchs born in late summer or early fall make the migration, and they make only one round trip. By the time next year's winter migration begins, several summer generations will have lived and died and it will be last year's migrators' great grandchildren that make the trip. Yet somehow these new generations know the way, and follow the same routes their ancestors took—sometimes even returning to the same tree.

Many scientists are concerned about the eastern population of monarchs, which summer east of the Rocky Mountains. This group is occurring in ever smaller numbers, and its survival may be threatened by a series of natural disasters in the Mexican wintering grounds, as well as by reduced acreage of milkweed plants in their summer home.

Quiz for National Wildlife Refuge Week

National Wildlife Refuge Week begins October 9.  Let's see how much you know about the national wildlife refuges right here in our own state of Texas! Answers at the bottom of the page, but no peeking! AND - try to make it out to Hagerman NWR this week.

Trivia Quiz - National Wildlife Refuges in Texas

1. Oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas:

A. Hagerman

B. Aransas

C. Muleshoe

2. Largest national wildlife refuge in Texas:

A. Anahuac

B. Aransas

C. Brazoria

3. National wildlife refuge protecting ocelots in Texas:

A. Balcones Canyonlands

B. Laguna Atascosa

C. Texas Point

4. The largest maternal colony of Rafinesque’s big-eared bats documented in Texas can be found roosting within this refuge:

A. McFadden

B. Neches River

C. Trinity River

5. The wetlands of this refuge include cypress trees up to 400 years old:

A. Caddo

C. Buffalo Lake

B. Big Boggy

6. These 3 national wildlife refuges have been designated as constituting an “Internationally Significant Shorebird Site”:

A. Balcones Canyonlands, Trinity River, Neches River

B. Big Boggy, San Bernard, Brazoria

C. Hagerman, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Trinity River

7. The federally endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler is a management priority at:

A. Moody

B. Little Sandy

C. Balcones Canyonlands

8. The national wildlife refuge known for wintering Whooping Cranes is

A. Buffalo Lake

B. Aransas

C. McFadden

9.  This refuge was home to the Karankawas in 10 -12,000 B.C. E.

A. Texas Point

B. Santa Ana

C. Hagerman

10.  The national wildlife refuge named for one of the last populations of an endangered species is_____________________NWR.

Note: This quiz originally appeared in the August, 2015, edition of the Featherless Flyer, newsletter of the Friends of Hagerman. 

Answers:  1.C;   2.B;   3.B;   4.C;   5.A;   6.B;   7.C;  8.B;   9.A;   10. Attwater Prairie Chicken