A young bald eagle (akweks) takes flight from one of the Akwesasne islands, June 14/2015.  The Mohawk territory on the St. Lawrence River is the site of the largest fresh water marshes in eastern North America. The area is home to many animal, fish and bird species from beavers to great blue herons but they are at risk. The invasive cormorant birds, native to Japan and released some years ago in southern New York by the ill advised State Department of Environmental Conservation, has now become entrenched at Akwesasne and is causing considerable harm. The cormorant destroys trees, drives off native birds and contaminates the land with its highly acidic droppings. There is currently no action by any regional environmental group to remove the cormorant yet the eagles continue to build their nests and raise their young on the islands. But how long will they be able to do so in defiance of the destructive cormorant? Preservation of indigenous species requires the cormorant to be removed.