Spring bird count yields new record for the Lake Links Trail

Lake Links Association spring bird count participant Kathy Brown photographed this Baltimore Oriole May 16 at West Park beach along the Lake Links Trail.

By Dennis Lindeke

Early Saturday morning, May 16, a group of 14 enthusiastic birders gathered at assigned points along the Lake Links Trail around White Bear Lake to survey the amazing variety of birds in our area. It was a very pleasant 58 degrees, clear and calm – perfect for birding. Over a 16-minute period, a total of 72 different unique bird species were seen or heard with the help of the Merlin smartphone app.

This was the third year of the Lake Links survey. observers identified 46 species in 2024 and 64 in 2025.  We were fortunate to catch the peak warbler migration this year, with 15 warbler species identified. The Tennessee Warbler was heard at most sites, along with the Yellow-rumped Warbler and the Northern Yellow Warbler. The most active site was Dwinell Marsh on the east side of the lake, with 39 different birds heard.  On average, 25 different birds were heard at each site.

Following the bird survey, all of the excited birders met for a cup of coffee and pastries at the Wild Bean/350 Degree Bakery.  And everyone wants to do it again next year because it was so much fun to see and hear the wide diversity of bird species that live, or pass through our area.

Participants gathered at the Wild Bean and 360 Degree Bakery in Mahtomedi to share results and stories from the 2026 Lake Links Association Spring Bird Count.

Thanks very much to Betsy DiFabio, Don Cummings, Mike and Karen Brooks, Debbie Staedt, Ellen Fuge, Steve Hennes, Jeanne and Jeff Zlonis, Lindsay Buck, Dan Parnell, Kathy Brown, and Carol Lindeke for coming out early on a Saturday morning to join me in listening to our birds.