September is waning and the Autumnal equinox passing. Thoughts of the country, the upcoming elections, year-end activities, and a new calendar moved us toward 2027. As the Harvest Moon rises and the sun sets, each day brings opportunities to explore with friends, loved ones, and new acquaintances.
A large gathering from across Minnesota met last week in Ely for a visit to the 140-acre Purvis Lake and Ober Foundation Scientific and Natural Area visit. Each person shares responsibility for working on SNAs managed by the Department of Natural Resources across the state. Most are meeting this place and the stories of Charles Sumner Purvis who lived here and that became part of one of Minnesota’s earliest designated SNAs.
Many people have individual stories that led them to this work and annual gathering. For at least one participant, the story goes back to a time at Vermilion Community College nearly two decades ago.
As the week went on after a trip to the annual Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory organization’s events, migration awareness of birds continued to grow. Visits to the local softball field, the Ely Cemetery, and adjoining Dorothy Molter Museum Trails resulted in meetings with friends and birds paused en route during every outing. After the dog park, there was a person, Brent, kneeling near second base on the softball field. On closer examination, we talked about the golden plover next to the base. He had seen plovers in the fields being chased by a merlin. This one went to the ground and was still sheltered near the base. Could it fly?
As a towel was brought from the car to approach to see if it would fly or be caught, the plover moved away, stretched its wings, and then flew past the cement plant and over to the cemetery. Question answered.
More outings with the Environmental Science class at Ely High School on nearby edge-of-town trails and visitors to Listening Point resulted in sightings of migrating ring-billed gulls, lots of fungi, singing white-throated sparrows, and maples – red leaves on the south side and green leaves on the north side.
Finally, on the last day of the month, entertainment in the form of storytelling was performed at the Ely Library by Fred Keller, and The Skally Line played their musical history of Minnesota.
All this occurred as the older needles on the white pines continued to turn yellow and provide a green and yellow backdrop across the Arrowhead landscape before falling to cover forest floors.
