Second Saturday at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge will feature a presentation on rusty blackbirds on February 12.  The speaker, Dr. Jason Luscier is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Austin College in Sherman.  Luscier is an active member of the Steering Committee for the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group, a consortium of scientists and conservationists collaborating efforts towards understanding population declines of this songbird. 

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, data from the Breeding Bird Survey show that Rusty Blackbirds, for example, have declined by 95% since the 1960s, indicating a loss of tens of millions of birds.  The program will begin at 10 a.m., in the Audio Visual Classroom at the Refuge, which is located at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, 75092. 

Luscier’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University and a Master of Science and a PhD in Wildlife Biology from the University of Arkansas.   Luscier’s research interests include evaluating population dynamics and habitat use patterns of threatened and declining bird species (including the Rusty Blackbird).  

The Second Saturday Nature Program Series is sponsored by Hagerman NWR and the Friends of Hagerman.  Programs are free and open to the public, with seating on a first come first serve basis. 

In addition, Second Saturday for Youth is also offered, for children ages 4 - 10.  Those 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent.  The youths’ topic for February 12 will be “This is For the Birds.”  Leaders for the event will be Katie Palmer and Marie Lynn.  Due to limited space until the new Visitor Center is completed, reservations are necessary and may be made by calling the Refuge office, 903 786 2826.

For more information, call the Refuge or visit http://www.friendsofhagerman.com/.