Ely Field Naturalists

08/12/2026

The Return of the Monarch
After years of decline, butterfly populations are rising—for now.

The title of this article is perhaps more optimistic than the reality reported on.
The future of the Monarchs is still uncertain for a variety of reasons.
But the information and story of the article is well worth reading.
And it is still well worth our time and efforts to try to help the Monarchs.

After years of decline, butterfly populations are rising—for now.

05/24/2026

Great moose video.
When you're in the right place at the right time ....

04/30/2026

Some great video captured by the VWP cameras.
Finally some documentation of a cougar with kittens to help substantiate speculation that there might well be breeding cougars in Minnesota. There is now this evidence.

03/24/2026

The most recent Minnesota moose population estimate is approximately 4,470 animals, according to the Minnesota DNR’s 2026 population survey. That’s up about 10% from the 2025 state moose population estimate of about 4,040 animals.

Results suggest that after a steep decline from a population estimate of 8,000 in 2009, Minnesota’s moose population appears to have somewhat leveled, fluctuating around 3,700 animals in recent years.

The most recent Minnesota moose population estimate is approximately 4,470 animals, according to the Minnesota DNR’s 2026 population survey.

10/31/2025

One "pretty nice log" along a well used thoroughfare through the forest.

10/09/2025

Bats Catch Migratory Birds and Eat Them in Midair
• For the first time, scientists documented direct evidence of a bat preying on a bird at high altitude.
• In a paper published in the journal Science, researchers detailed how the largest bat in Europe, the greater noctule bat, nabbed a European robin, before chewing and eating the prey in flight. This stands in stark contrast to the bats’ typical diet of insects.
• While bats are best known for hunting insects, some larger species can occasionally prey on frogs, lizards and fish. Tropical bats have also been known to snack on perching songbirds.

For the first time, scientists documented direct evidence of a bat preying on a bird at high altitude.

08/09/2025

Watch these 3 minutes of Hummingbirds, the parent and the tiny babies.

03/13/2025

There's a Goose situation !
They're heading North !

https://www.facebook.com/reel/922558729954522

03/06/2025

Canada Goose v Bald Eagle

Mervyn Sequeira photographed a battle between a Bald Eagle and a Canada Goose that is likely suffering from avian influenza. In spite of being ill, the goose fought the eagle off for 20-minutes until the eagle gave up and left. The eagle probably thought the goose was an easy meal sitting still and alone on the ice. Unfortunately, the goose will most likely succumb to bird flue, it's wounds and the cold. It is also likely that the eagle became infected and will also die of bird flue.

Instagram photos here (four sets)—
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGgu078R6W_/?img_index=1
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGgwfM6xiJN/?img_index=1
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGin6C9RUla/?img_index=1
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGioY6LRLJJ/?img_index=1