Eagles, leaves and the Pa. Grand Canyon
When it comes to wildlife, it's difficult to find something as majestic as an eagle.
This week's photo is a memorable one for me. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Game Commission released this young bird at State Game Lands 93 in Somerset County. The property is located across the highway from the Flight 93 National Memorial that remembers the events that happened there on Sept. 11, 2001.
The bald eagle was found earlier this year in Indiana County with the West Nile virus. It was taken to the Centre Wildlife Care and rehabilitated.
Friday's release of the healthy eagle during the tribute to Flight 93 was a meaningful and beautiful way to conclude the service. While we have dark times, like 9/11, that we should never forget; we try to heal and learn to soar again.
This week's other features highlight the expectations for the autumn leaf season. State and national foresters met last week in Pittsburgh. One of the topics I discussed with them are their predictions about how colorful the leaves should be in October. They agreed the weather was right for another spectacular year like we had in 2020.
One of the numerous places to enjoy the fall colors is the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania in Wellsboro. The Pine Creek Gorge and surrounding roads in Tioga County are a tall canvas of green trees just waiting for Mother Nature's paintbrush.
If you are ready to go bird hunting, consider taking someone to one of the roughly 40 managed dove fields across the commonwealth. The Game Commission in recent years has created fields that attract these migrating birds. It's a good social time for hunters. Sitting along a field's edge waiting for birds to fly in is a great way to mentor new people to the tradition of hunting as well.
As we get into the hunting season, if there's a tradition or special something you need to have with you each time you go to the woods, I'd like to hear from you. Hunting creates many bonds between family and friends. Traditions, such as always carrying a special knife or rifle, carry many memories that deserve to be preserved and shared.
Brian Whipkey is the outdoor columnist for USA Today Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com or 814-701-6542. Sign up for our weeklyOutdoors Newsletter email on your website's homepage under your login name.