S.C.R. No. 164 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Eagle Fest '96 will be held in Rains County on 1-2 January 19 and January 20, 1996, to bring public awareness to the 1-3 winter nesting places for a large number of bald eagles at Lake 1-4 Fork and Lake Tawakoni; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The first annual festival for birders and nature 1-6 lovers will present many events and activities that will be both 1-7 educational and entertaining; among the special activities planned 1-8 are an art show, live bird demonstrations, guest speakers, birds of 1-9 prey exhibits, a night owl prowl, and music throughout the 1-10 festival, ending with a country western concert; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Barge tours on the lakes will be conducted to search 1-12 for the magnificent eagles who soar so gracefully through the sky, 1-13 and birders will be afforded the opportunity to view numerous other 1-14 local and migratory birds, as well as other wildlife in its 1-15 natural habitat; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Our national emblem, the bald eagle is an endangered 1-17 species and has been found wintering in Texas more than in any 1-18 other part of the country; from mid-November to early March or 1-19 April, to the delight of bird watchers, the eagles come to nest on 1-20 the lakes and in the creek bottoms below the dams on both Lake 1-21 Tawakoni and Lake Fork; the 1994 eagle count on the lakes was 52; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, Information obtained from the Texas Parks and 2-1 Wildlife Department shows that four pairs of eagles have chosen to 2-2 make Lake Fork their permanent home year-round; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Eagle Fest '96 evolved through the efforts of the 2-4 Rains County Industrial Commission, the Rains County Tourism 2-5 Committee, and the Emory Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism and 2-6 economic development in Rains County; now, therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-8 hereby declare Rains County the Eagle Capitol of Texas and extend 2-9 best wishes to its citizens for a most rewarding and productive 2-10 Eagle Fest '96; and, be it further 2-11 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the 2-12 residents of Rains County as an expression of the appreciation of 2-13 the Texas Legislature for their notable work in preserving and 2-14 protecting the American bald eagle.