Ever seen a real live American bald eagle soaring through the air or perched majestically atop a tall tree?

Well, you can this winter and early spring as bald eagles migrate to the Texas Colorado River Canyon near LCRA’s Canyon of the Eagles (COE) Nature Park on the shores of Lake Buchanan. Every November through March about 25 bald eagles make this area in Burnet County home. Since it began operations in 1991, thousands of students, families and ecotourists have visited COE, many of them looking for an experience with the eagles in their natural habitat.

To view the eagles, you need to take a leisurely boat trip on the Vanishing Texas River Cruise. It leaves from a dock at COE. For more information about reservations, meals and departure times, call 1-800-4 RIVER-4, (512) 756-6986 or go online to http://www.vtrc.com/. Remember that weather conditions on the water can change rapidly, so dress in layers and bring a blanket. Don’t worry if a chance of rain is in the forecast. The boat has an enclosed, heated cabin, and the eagles tend to sit on tree tops near the water, making it easy to see them up close. Don’t forget the camera.

While you’re there, spend some time in the nature park. Roughly 800 of the park's 940 acres are a nature preserve that is home to a variety of wildlife. The park has multiple fishing docks and piers along three miles of lakefront, an outdoor amphitheater, a 64-unit lodge, swimming pool, restaurant, meeting rooms, campgrounds, RV sites, hiking trails and lights-out observatory area for stargazing.

To reserve an RV or camp site, call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's reservation center at (512) 389-8900. To reserve cottages, lodge rooms or conference facilities, contact the park directly at 1-800-977-0081.

COE is about 75 miles northwest of Austin in the Central Texas Hill Country. The nearest major town is Burnet.