Midwest Menagerie (Ella)
@midwestmenagerie.bsky.social
An account where I share my love of nature and animals through incredibly amateur photography. What I lack in photo quality I make up for in whimsy 🩷
I might swear or make an adult joke sometimes so minors begone
mid 20s, she/her
I might swear or make an adult joke sometimes so minors begone
mid 20s, she/her
Pinned
Just fyi, as much as I trust y’all:
if you think you recognize somewhere I post or think you know where I am, no you don’t 🫵
if you think you recognize somewhere I post or think you know where I am, no you don’t 🫵
Let’s swoop with mama! (Or papa) 🪶
December 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Let’s swoop with mama! (Or papa) 🪶
They don’t normally live here but a mountain lion was just seen wandering around my city and I know they’re very dangerous but part of me is like “how fucking rad would it be to get a picture of it”
I’m not in the mood to get mauled though so I’ll settle for the trail cam footage
I’m not in the mood to get mauled though so I’ll settle for the trail cam footage
December 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
They don’t normally live here but a mountain lion was just seen wandering around my city and I know they’re very dangerous but part of me is like “how fucking rad would it be to get a picture of it”
I’m not in the mood to get mauled though so I’ll settle for the trail cam footage
I’m not in the mood to get mauled though so I’ll settle for the trail cam footage
Stupid smug bird showed up too late again
December 4, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Stupid smug bird showed up too late again
There’s a great horned owl in my neighborhood that I’m convinced is taunting me, I’ve seen or heard it almost every day for the past month but it’s always too dark to get a photo.
I woke up at the crack of dawn today to try and get a photo but no luck. Trying again at sunset tonight.
I woke up at the crack of dawn today to try and get a photo but no luck. Trying again at sunset tonight.
December 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
There’s a great horned owl in my neighborhood that I’m convinced is taunting me, I’ve seen or heard it almost every day for the past month but it’s always too dark to get a photo.
I woke up at the crack of dawn today to try and get a photo but no luck. Trying again at sunset tonight.
I woke up at the crack of dawn today to try and get a photo but no luck. Trying again at sunset tonight.
My beautiful powdered donut child
November 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
My beautiful powdered donut child
Total snow accumulation: one hand (about 6 inches)
November 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Total snow accumulation: one hand (about 6 inches)
There’s supposed to be a snowstorm tonight but no one knows how much we’re supposed to get. I’ve seen anywhere from only 3 inches to up to 20 inches.
I’ll be happy with any amount tbh, as long as it doesn’t melt right away
I’ll be happy with any amount tbh, as long as it doesn’t melt right away
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
There’s supposed to be a snowstorm tonight but no one knows how much we’re supposed to get. I’ve seen anywhere from only 3 inches to up to 20 inches.
I’ll be happy with any amount tbh, as long as it doesn’t melt right away
I’ll be happy with any amount tbh, as long as it doesn’t melt right away
There was another duck right next to her who was in the middle of the coziest nap I’ve ever seen. 🪶
November 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
There was another duck right next to her who was in the middle of the coziest nap I’ve ever seen. 🪶
Have you ever seen such a friend shaped creature? The sparkling eyes. The round body. The lil beak turn. Outstanding. 🪶
November 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Have you ever seen such a friend shaped creature? The sparkling eyes. The round body. The lil beak turn. Outstanding. 🪶
Went on a walk yesterday and saw 16 bald eagles in the span of 2 hours. It’s amazing to think that they were so close to extinction at one point because now they’re like pigeons 🪶
November 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Went on a walk yesterday and saw 16 bald eagles in the span of 2 hours. It’s amazing to think that they were so close to extinction at one point because now they’re like pigeons 🪶
Ella life update dump:
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
November 19, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Ella life update dump:
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
I have found a productive outlet for my rage and desire for social justice and gone into politics
I’ve decided to postpone applying to PhD programs and instead am getting my master’s first in order to make myself a better candidate. I will be starting it in the spring.
I think the sky must have heard me and taken this post as a challenge, because not 12 hours after I said “the lights were less intense this year” I was proven wrong
November 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I think the sky must have heard me and taken this post as a challenge, because not 12 hours after I said “the lights were less intense this year” I was proven wrong
Northern lights this year vs. last year
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
November 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Northern lights this year vs. last year
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
Even if they were less intense this year I feel very lucky to have seen them 2 years in a row.
It’s snowing but at what cost
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
November 9, 2025 at 3:12 PM
It’s snowing but at what cost
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
That’s about -4 feeling like -11 to my celsius pals
MAMDANI WON WOOHOO
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
November 5, 2025 at 4:00 AM
MAMDANI WON WOOHOO
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
I’m halfway across the country but I’ll drink to that
My friend who’s not from here wants to go skinny dipping in Lake Superior for her birthday next week as some sort of “renewal” thing she does every year and I’m trying to explain how that’s not a good idea
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
My friend who’s not from here wants to go skinny dipping in Lake Superior for her birthday next week as some sort of “renewal” thing she does every year and I’m trying to explain how that’s not a good idea
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
You can really tell when someone didn’t grow up hearing about the Edmund Fitzgerald
Look at her, acting all tired as if she raked the leaves herself and didn’t just plop down on the nice pile I made
October 29, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Look at her, acting all tired as if she raked the leaves herself and didn’t just plop down on the nice pile I made
The photo isn’t great but it showcases one of my favorite facts about ducks: they can be trans! Specifically mtf.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
October 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The photo isn’t great but it showcases one of my favorite facts about ducks: they can be trans! Specifically mtf.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
As they get older, the hens go through duck menopause and develop the plumage and behavior of drakes (male ducks)
It happened to one of my aunt’s ducks, Frida the duck became Freddy.
Why are her eyes so 🥺
🪶
🪶
October 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Why are her eyes so 🥺
🪶
🪶
There’s a spider that keeps desperately trying to build a web between my car door and the tree I park next to, like don’t you think there’s a better spot for that little buddy?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
October 12, 2025 at 2:23 PM
There’s a spider that keeps desperately trying to build a web between my car door and the tree I park next to, like don’t you think there’s a better spot for that little buddy?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
Better than something that moves a lot and isn’t there for extended periods of time?
My parents left for a 2 week vacation yesterday and our fridge already broke, lmao 🙃
October 11, 2025 at 1:49 AM
My parents left for a 2 week vacation yesterday and our fridge already broke, lmao 🙃
There was frost on the ground this morning! Winter is almost here
October 8, 2025 at 2:27 PM
There was frost on the ground this morning! Winter is almost here
It’s been so wet lately that the mushrooms are flourishing, here are some shaggy ink caps 🍄🍄🟫
October 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It’s been so wet lately that the mushrooms are flourishing, here are some shaggy ink caps 🍄🍄🟫
There needs to be a word for people who are family-adjacent to you. Like the family of your family. People you see at birthdays and recognize in the store but aren’t really connected with.
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”
October 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
There needs to be a word for people who are family-adjacent to you. Like the family of your family. People you see at birthdays and recognize in the store but aren’t really connected with.
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”
I’m not going to keep saying “my cousin’s husband’s sister” or “my uncle by marriage’s parents”