Eagles and Rocks

nn3701 Earl Plato
“It’s a ‘Throw-away world’ man! “If it wears out we just get a new one.” What’s the problem? The problem mankind has in this modern world that too many fail to realize that once we ‘throw-away’ something such as our endangered species there will be no new species available! We must care now!
Bob Chambers and I did not see any Bald eagles on our recent trip to the mouth of the Grand River. However, some miles to the west at Turkey Point “The discovery of a dead bald eagle in an abandoned nest in a tree...” Reporter Kate Barlow for Torstar news service tells us in her article entitled, Rare-species Charges Laid After Eaglet Found Dead. I call Bob the “Eagle Man” because of his great interest in this giant raptor. He gave me the Barlow article printed in the Hamilton Spectator.
Don’t harm the eagles or their habitat is the message. Under the Endangered Species Act of Ontario five people have been charged in the Simcoe area with 18 counts after several trees near the bald eagles’ nest were felled.
Listen to this - would be offenders. The maximum penalty per charge for a conviction under the Endangered Species Act is a $50,000 fine and two years’ imprisonment! That’s per charge! “The body of the eaglet was found ... during an investigation by Ministry Resource staff into the cutting down of several trees. The only tree left standing contained a bald eagle’s nest high in its branches.” The accused are to appear in Simcoe court.. I hope that justice is done. ***
What a Saturday! Sunshine and pleasant air conditions were ours on a day trip to Little Rock City in Little Valley, Cattaraugus County, Western New York. I have been to Panama Rocks and Rock City near Olean in that area. There you paid. This site was free! Why? Its location is difficult to reach but well worth it.
Finally after thirteen years I realized one of my goals to visit this remote natural phenomenon. I had underlined in the book by Margaret Wooster an interesting description of Rock City. The word ‘little’ did not appear on present day signs. Margaret’s description of how to get there was well detailed - too detailed for this Canadian. Fortunately for us our cousin Tom Hansen is an officer for NYS Environmental Police. Guess where he lives? Tom has ten acres and a impressive log cabin abutting up to 6,000 acres of a State forest. We were there for our annual Anderson Reunion and Tom mentioned Rock City. Hey, that’s the place I had wanted to visit for years. Now we had a man who knew the Cattaraugus area. “Follow me,” said Tom. Off we went American and Canadian relatives.
Tom had us there in a short time. Gravel roads all the way. We passed a CCC camp site. There were a few campers in this primitive setting. Old timers do you know what CCC stands for?
All of us from ages 16-82 arrived at Rock City. We unloaded chairs for the elderly to see us take off for down the trails. Yes, bad ankle and all I was determined to see Rock City. Those who know Niagara Glen and its huge rocks, winding paths and potholes would identify with Rock City.
Years of glaciation widened the stress fractures in these gigantic rocks of Rock City splitting them apart. Two hikers emerged from one deep split beside us. What a place for hide-and-seek games! These blocks have weathered and are covered with lichen and moss. You walk under rock bridges, squeeze through rock crannies, or do as we did leap across the crevices. Exciting? Yes. I hobbled along. I need more time. Tom Hansen told us, “Come back anytime especially in the fall when the leaves change and before the deer hunting season.” We will.