Rains County was designated the Eagle Capital of Texas by the Texas Legislature in 1995. There is an annual Eagle Festival. Rains County is an important nesting and feeding area for bald eagles and many other birds.
 
 
Texas Department of Agriculture - Texas Yes!
Rains County
Destination:
Rains County, “Eagle Capital of Texas”
Where You’ll Find It:
Prairies and Lakes Region; 60 miles east of Dallas.
Texans Who Call This Home:
10,300
Snapshot:
Get away from big city pressures and escape to this laid-back rural county and its small towns: East Tawakoni, Emory and Point. Lake Fork is the biggest bass-fishing lake in Texas. Lake Tawakoni is a catfish and striper lake surrounded by family communities. With 258.8 square miles, Rains is one of the smallest counties in the state; more than 10 percent is under water.
Did You Know:
The state’s largest catfish was caught on Lake Tawakoni. More sharelunkers have come from Lake Fork than any other in the state.
Don’t Miss:
Eagle Fest: February
Founders Day: May
Combination Golf/Bass Tournament: September
Rains County Fair: September
 
Eagle Fest
12th Annual Eagle Fest
 
Eagle Fest was started as an educational effort to expand our knowledge of nature and our heritage. Each year the festival included educational displays, exhibitions and lectures; Native American art and performances;; live music; and nature tours.  This year will be our eleventh annual event, to be held at the Rains ISD Schools Campus on US 69, Northwest of Emory, Texas February 10-11, 2007. 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife and the US Army Corps of Engineers are always a huge part of the event providing speakers, water safety exhibits, tour guides and nature exhibits.

Eagle Fest is also privileged to provide two famous bird rehabilitation organizations. On the Wing Again provides an opportunity for kids and adults to see birds up close as they walk though the exhibit and have guides teach all about these wonderful animals and point out their unique features and abilities. Last Chance Forever provides shows of birds in action. They demonstrate the interaction between man and his environment with such birds of prey as owls, vultures, falcons, hawks and eagles.  Making his first appearance this year will be Silverfox (bio or video), an Apache flute player. 

Rains County—Eagle Capital of Texas
 
The 74th Legislature of the State of Texas passed a resolution declaring Rains County “The Eagle Capital of Texas” as an effort to protect and preserve the American Bald Eagle. The resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 24, 1995 and by the House on May 29, 1995. It was signed by the Honorable George W. Bush, Governor of the Great State of Texas, on June 16, 1995 thus officially proclaiming Rains County as the “Eagle Capital of Texas”.

The proclamation notes the importance of Lake Fork, Lake Tawakoni and surrounding areas as nesting and feeding grounds for the Bald Eagles as well as many other species of birds, both regional and migratory. Rains County has recorded 260 different species and varieties of wild birds.     
 
Eagle Festival, Emory, Texas
Eagle Festival
10 - 11 Feb 2007 (annual)
 
Rains County has been named the Eagle Capital of Texas in recognition of the region’s importance as nesting and feeding grounds for the bald eagles. The festival takes advantage of this prime eagle-spotting territory, offering guided barge tours on nearby Lake Fork. During the one-hour trip, visitors can enjoy a close-up view of these amazing avians, as well as several other species of wild birds in their natural habitat.

Back on land, entertainment includes live music shows, arts and craft stalls, Native American events, a talent contest and a demonstration of live tigers by Animal Adventures, who raise wild cats before turning them loose.

Numerous educational displays and lectures are on offer from Texas Parks and Wildlife and bird rehabilitation organisations. Watch out for the live demonstrations highlighting the abilities of owls, hawks, falcons, vultures and eagles, which never fail to thrill visitors.
 
Rains County Government
Founded in 1870 with the County Seat in Emory, Texas, Rains County has proudly been designated “Eagle Capital of Texas” where during the winter the lakes are home to many American Bald Eagles and other rare birds.  The fourth smallest of the Lone Star State’s 254 counties, Rains is home to people who demonstrate Texas-sized heart and spirit.  The county is situated between two lakes bordered on the west by Lake Tawakoni, the catfish capital, and on the east by Lake Fork, the bass fishing capital;  the lakes offer exceptional sailing, boating, fishing, for outdoors enthusiasts, as well as numerous parks and abundant other recreational opportunities in the growing cities of East Tawakoni, Emory, and Point.

Official Capital Designations - Texas State Library
Eagle Capital of Texas
Rains County
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 164, 74th Legislature, Regular Session (1995)