This festival, which began as an educational event, is still heavily laden with educational seminars and displays aimed at enlightening attendees on the eagle and its habits and habitat. Additionally, Eagle Fest features Native American art and performances, live music, nature watching tours and children’s activities. Eagle watching tours will be conducted both in the field and also on the water aboard boats and barges.
Although East Texas is hardly the image most birders conjure when they think of eagles, Emory and surrounding Rains County, which includes Lakes Fork and Tawakoni, was officially declared Rains County the “Eagle Capital of Texas” in 1995 by the 74th State Legislature. The designation has allowed for protection of nesting and feeding habitat for Bald Eagles and other birds. As a result, the eagle population has thrived. In fact, the most recent Texas Parks and Wildlife sponsored count recorded over 50 eagles on Lake Fork alone.
The Eagle Festival is set for the second weekend of February each year.
