Lakeshore Listing!
With 90' of Sandy Shoreline. Experience lake life at its finest in this exceptional 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom home, perfectly situated on a private dead-end street. Enjoy seamless indoor-outdoor living with 2023-installed Nanawall doors that open from the kitchen to a spacious porch with Phantom screens. The main level is flooded with natural light thanks to soaring ceilings and walls of windows. Thoughtfully designed for main-floor living, it features a lakeside primary suite and walk-in closet, an elegant office, formal dining room, laundry room, and a beautifully updated kitchen. The walkout lower level is built for entertaining, complete with a spacious family room, wet bar, wine cellar, and a new media screen and projector. You’ll also find a fitness room with lake views, a sauna, steam shower the 5th bedroom, two ¾ bathrooms, and ample storage space. Additional features include in-floor heating in both the basement and 3+ car garages, new Class 4 shingles, copper gutters, and updated doors and windows on the boathouse. This rare lakefront retreat combines luxury, comfort, and locationoffering the ultimate White Bear Lake lifestyle.
Curious about your home's current value? Call Marty at 651-485-1555 for a complimentary
Email to ppinfo@presspubs.com with subject line "Laker"
Part of my early morning routine is my 2 mile walk to the lake and enjoy my coffee and peacefulness. That morning was the beautiful sunrise and early morning anglers silhouetted against the backdrop of it. I waited a few moments to capture the sunlight in perfect alignment with the boat. The anglers happened to be in the perfect spots.
We’d like to hear what you think about The Laker. Comments are welcome via email at ppinfo@ presspubs.com
Merrily Shipe | Contributed Paddle pal Josh coasts through lily pads.
Merrily Shipe | Contributed A rainbow appears over Bald Eagle Lake.
Joyce Hinzie | Contributed
The Cargo Manifest
Shore Leave Riggings
Lake Dog Shore Leave
Welcome to the fall issue of The Laker!
We all contemplate that bittersweet day when the boats and docks come out. The beautiful homes are revealed around our lakes as the trees shed their leaves. It’s a spectacular time to be on the water as summer comes to an end. So, grab a sweatshirt and enjoy those last cruises and paddles around the lake.
It’s an exciting time to view migrating waterfowl like black and White-winged Scoters stopping over, Sea Ducks, Gadwalls, Buffleheads and Greater and Lesser Scaup. Three merganser duck species will be traveling through: common, hooded and red-breasted.
In this edition, we talked to Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Freemyer about why he loves patrolling White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake.
We also dived into a bay on White Bear Lake, specifically Schneider Bay, and its history.
Rick Smith reminisces about his memories of the area and how it has changed since his childhood growing up on Bald Eagle Lake.
You won’t want to miss White Bear Lake resident Joel Moline’s log-cabin home surrounded by a stream, gardens and koi pond.
And who could forget the fall Lake Dog Lucy, a mini bernedoodle who can frequently be spotted riding on a pontoon.
Before you mouse-proof your boat with dryer sheets and shrink wrap for winter, remember to send us summer highlight photos and story ideas for next year’s issue at ppinfo@presspubs.com.
We hope you enjoy this issue. Enjoy fall, because winter will be here before you know it!
THE LAKER Staff
Preserving White Bear Lake for Future Generations
Summer Updates from the White Bear Lake Conservation District
1. Just under 31 acres of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) was treated on July 17th. EWM treatment areas are circled in the maps above. (2025 left and 2012-2023 right)
2. The MN DNR has confirmed that invasive yellow iris was found in Hall’s Marsh. Please continue to watch your shoreline and shallow water for this invasive plant. Please see the QR code for tips on identification and management.
3. The WBLCD and partners are monitoring monthly for starry stonewort (SSW) . We are also seeking the public’s help by searching your dock area. If you see any-
thing suspicious, please snap a photo and send it to us.
4. 2026 WBLCD permit applications will be available on our website late August. Permits for commercial marinas and non-commercial docks are due by October 15, 2025
5. Buoys marking hazards will remain in the lake until at least October 15th. The buoy map is available on our website.
6. The WBLCD Manitou Days Lake Clean Up was held on June 28th. Thank you to everyone who participated. The group from the WBLCD collected about 20 pounds of garbage.
Swimmer’s
know
Reminder:
The WBLCD provides funding to its 5 member municipalities to treat public beaches for swimmer’s itch. Each municipality decides when (and if) to treat their public beaches. Swimmer’s itch is a microscopic parasite that spends part of its life in waterfowl (ducks and
geese) and another part of its life in snails. The parasite can burrow into humans and cause an itchy, red bumps similar to a mosquito bites. To ditch the itch, towel off immediately after swimming, avoid feeding waterfowl and skip swimming in snail heavy shallow water.
The WBLCD saves 15 minutes of each Board meeting for public comments. Please join us on any third Tuesday of the month (except December) in the city council chamber of the WBL City Hall. The next meeting will be held on Sept. 16th at 7 pm.
Four Ways you can help protect WBL now
1. Continue to check your dock area for starry stonewort and invasive yellow iris
2. Watch for updated dock permits on our website
3. Join us at an upcoming meeting
4. Stay up to date: follow us on social media
Let’s Connect – Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or check out our website
Website - wblcd.org
Facebook - “WBLCD” www.facebook.com/
WhiteBearLakeConservationDistrict
Instagram - “WBL Conservation District”
YouTube - WBL Conservation District
Top left: Setting the stage for an early morning Loon water dance, that will feature circle swimming, bill dipping, and synchronized diving.
Bottom Left: Mama Loon and her little loonlet, aka chick, in tow.
Right: This happy Loon greeted us at the crack of dawn, celebrating a reprieve from the Canadian wildfire smoke.
Photos by Ellen Maas | Contributed
SHERIFF’S OFFICE PROVIDES YOUTH WITH FIRST-TIME EXPERIENCES
By Shannon Granholm Managing Editor
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office often takes time to ensure that children have the chance to try new experiences while remaining safe.
The activities are part of the Youth Plus Program. In February 2019, the sheriff’s office restored youth crime prevention programs and established Youth Plus, which introduces participants to athletics, outdoor activities, life skills and literacy enhancement to improve reading skills.
For many involved in the program, the program provides their first time riding a bike, being on a lake, fishing in a boat or camping. “Now they have a core memory for a lifetime,” said Inspector Daryl Gullette. Undersheriff Chy Nou Lee added, “It’s about the experiences.”
About 60 children are participating in the program. The age range varies, but generally participants are 12-17.
While in the program, children explore far beyond Ramsey County. They might
take a camping trip to Wolf Ridge in Finland, Minnesota, or fish for trout in Rushford, Minnesota. Lee explained that transportation is provided, because many families don’t have transportation or couldn’t afford the experience elsewhere.
Youth Plus helps bridge the gap between law enforcement and communities in Ramsey County’s economically disadvantaged and underserved neighborhoods. Its goal is to prevent youth from becoming involved in criminal activity and help them make more positive choices.
“We are members of the community too ... you are going to see us walking around, at the grocery store,” Gullette said. “It gives them that positive experience with law enforcement; it's more than just us riding around in squad cars.”
Lee added, “We want to keep these kids busy and connected to law enforcement to try to deter youth crime.”
New this year, the sheriff’s office has
a dock at Lakeview Park on White Bear Lake. Lee said that it’s nice to have a “home base” for the program.
“It’s a great partnership. It shows the kids that we are all working together in the community for their benefit,” Gullette explained.
In addition to working with the city of White Bear Lake, the sheriff’s office has partnerships with St. Paul Parks and Recreation, the Department of Natural Resources and countless volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering, email sypp@co.ramsey.mn.us. For more information about Youth Plus,
visit www.ramseycounty.us/yourgovernment/leadership/sheriffs-office/ public-safety-resources/youth-plusprogram. ◼
Shannon Granholm | Press Publications Inspector Daryl Gullette and Undersheriff Chy Nou Lee oversee the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Youth Plus Program. They are pictured on the recently installed dock at Lakeview Park on White Bear Lake.
Contributed
For many youth in the program, this is their first time fishing.
Photos Contributed
The program teaches youth ages 12-17 about being safe on and around the water. Many of the youth involved have not been around lakes.
SCHNEIDER BAY: A HISTORY
by Erik Suchy Staff Writer
The story of White Bear Lake and its bays goes back almost 200 years, to a time when mainly Indigenous people of North America populated the area around the lake. Amongst these bays is Schneider, the history of which can be traced back to 1885.
Much of the land around what is now the bay was owned by Peter Schneider Jr., who later dropped the “Jr.” from his name. Schneider owned 50 acres on the lake and a parcel of farmland 26 acres to the southwest. According to the 1880 agriculture census, Schneider farmed 80 tilled acres on a farm worth $6,000 and planted 50 acres of wheat, which produced 750 bushels in 1879.
At the turn of the 20th century, an extensive
streetcar and rail system was developed to bring St. Paul and Minneapolis residents to White Bear Lake during the summer. One streetcar stop, called “Schneider,” was constructed southwest of Lily Lake Pond.
“Since this stop has no adjacent streets, there was either something located there for which people would have a reason to stop at Schneider or it was situated in anticipation of future development,” said Scott Costello, former board director of the White Bear Lake Conservation District. “I have heard stories that there was a bait shop on Schneider Bay, but I have found no historical record of that.”
Further developments to the area came in 1957, when local homebuilder Ken Bacchus acquired land south of Lily Lake Pond. Bacchus planned a significant addition to what he called the Bacchus Lakeridge Addition, which included putting in Joy
Avenue and Lakeridge Drive and extending Floral Drive and Myrle Avenue. Knowing the lake was a selling feature for his homes, Bacchus arranged to sell easements on the Schneider Bay lakeshore he owned.
One of the first homes to appear on the north side of Lily Lake Pond, across South Shore Boulevard from Schneider Bay, was built for Dr. Bob Reif in 1960. Reif, a well-known doctor who also served in the state House of Representatives from 1979 to 1984, became known around the bay for his rose garden, which he frequently tended. His son Tony later took ownership of the home.
The White Bear Lake Conservation District would later require permits for docks that had more than four boats. In response, the Snyder Bay Beach Club was formed in 2000 (the name “Snyder” was chosen, as no one knew if “Snyder” or “Schneider” was the correct name).
From 2010 to 2014, the bay experienced a significant drop in water level caused by increased groundwater pumping below the lake. When the lake level dropped below 919 feet in 2013, the bay registered no more than 18 inches deep several hundred feet out. “Schneider Bay was highly affected by it, because the water drops in the shallow part of the lake,” said Tony Reif. “People didn’t even take out boats very much, because they couldn’t get out of the bay for those three to four years.”
A unique aspect of the lakeshore along Schneider Bay is the noticeable lack of houses between South Shore Boulevard and White Bear Lake. This allows for more scenic views as the boulevard descends eastward from McKnight. The Lake Links Trail, built in 2023, provides a lakeshore path on the north side of the boulevard. ◼
White Bear Lake Historical Society | Contributed
An aerial view of Schneider Bay in the 1930s, featuring areas that would become the future McKnight Road and Lily Lake.
Peter Schneider
LAKER CALENDAR
ONGOING EVENTS
Mahtomedi Farmers Market
When: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays through September
Where: Veterans Memorial Park
Contact: www.whitebearlake.org/ ourcommunity/page/farmers-market
White Bear Lake Farmers Market
When: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Fridays through October
Where: Clark Avenue between Second and Third Streets
Contact: www.whitebearlake.org/ ourcommunity/page/farmers-market
SEPTEMBER
Author visit
When: 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5
Where: Lake Country Booksellers, 4766 Washington Square
Details: William Kent Krueger joins us to sign his 21st Cork O’Connor Mystery, “Apostle’s Cove.”
Contact: 651-426-0918 or booksellers@earthlink.net
Taste of White Bear Lake
When: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6
Where: Pine Tree Apple Orchard, 450 Apple Orchard Road
Details: Sample food and beverages from local establishments while supporting White Bear Lake Rotary programs. There will be music, a silent auction, games and more.
Contact: info@tasteofwhitebearlake. com
24th Annual Bear Water Run
When: 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13
Where: White Bear Lake County Park, 5050 Lake Ave.
Details: Ten-mile and 20-mile courses available for runners circling White Bear Lake in this USA Track and Field certified event. Proceeds go to the Lions Club’s community efforts. All finishers get a race medal. Contact: info@whitebearlions.org
One Last Tri
When: 6:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14
Where: White Bear Lake County Park, 5050 Lake Ave.
BALD EAGLE LAKE ART CRAWL
When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13
Where: Various locations around Bald Eagle Lake
Details: Join us for a one-of-a-kind, outdoor art experience featuring local artists, crafters, and musicians in beautiful lakeside settings. Contact: www.belarts.org
Details: One Last Tri features a shortened swim, a lengthened bike through Stillwater horse country, and a run along White Bear Lake. The top three male and female racers in all age groups will receive awards. Contact: 651-440-9625 or judi@ mmraces.com
Gloria’s 13th Annual Shortest Marathon
When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20
Where: Bald Eagle Avenue and Third Street
Details: Join this one-block run to raise money for the White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf. Celebrate with Caribou Coffee and donut holes at the finish line. Register by Sept. 10 to guarantee a T-shirt.
Contact: 651-407-5310 or info@ whitebearfoodshelf.org
White Bear Township Day Celebration
When: 2-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20
Where: Polar Lakes Park, 1281 Hammond Road.
Details: Experience live music, community demonstrations, a car show, BINGO and more. Food and refreshments are available for purchase at the VFW Beer Gardens and from various food trucks. Fireworks will be at dusk. Feel free to bring lawn chairs. Contact: 612-616-0711 or events@ whitebeartownship.org
‘ABBAsolutely FAB’
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20
Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.
Details: “ABBASolutely FAB” brings an all-star lineup of musicians to the stage for a high-energy tribute to the iconic pop/disco supergroup, ABBA. Come sing along, dance it out, and be the “Dancing Queen” that you were born to be.
Contact: 651-478-7427 or tickets@ lakeshoreplayers.org
Trivia Night at the Armory
When: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23
Where: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 Fourth St.
Details: Join us for a gathering of the minds as we take on local-themed trivia. Teams of up to six members can compete. Carbone’s pizza and chicken as well as drinks available on-site. Contact: 651-407-5327 or office@ whitebearhistory.org
Fall Fest
When: Sept. 25-27
Where: Railroad Park, 4749
Washington Square
Details: Fall Fest celebrates the beginning of the most colorful season in Downtown White Bear Lake. Enjoy the turning of the leaves, polka and pumpkins. Contact: info@ downtownwhitebearlake.com
‘Red’
When: Sept. 26-Oct. 12
Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.
Details: Lakeshore Players presents this black-box drama about a painter whose new piece will be either a masterpiece or his downfall due to an ambitious, new collaborator. Contact: 651-478-7427 or tickets@ lakeshoreplayers.org
OCTOBER
Walk and Run for the Apples
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18
Where: Pine Tree Apple Orchard, 450 Apple Orchard Road
Details: This beautiful course is on the trails through the apple orchard, strawberry fields and pumpkin patch. Awards for top three male and female finishers in each age group. No strollers or pets. Proceeds of the race help fund scholarships for high school students who participate in the Strive Program. Contact: whitebearrotary.org/event/ run-for-the-apples-4
Ladies of the Lake Quilting Show
When: 12-4 p.m. Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26
Where: Pine Tree Apple Orchard, 450 Apple Orchard Road
Details: This display of quilts is made by members of a local guild. Contact: pinetreeappleorchard.com
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10A
SHORE LEAVE | EVENTS
LAKER CALENDAR
Scare in White Bear
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
Where: Memorial Beach, 4958 Lake Ave., White Bear Lake
Details: Family-friendly 5K race on a torch-lit path along White Bear Lake. Kids fun run at 6 p.m. followed by trick-or-treating party on the beach. Costumes encouraged. Registration and details online.
Contact: mmraces.com/scare-inwhite-bear
‘The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical’
When: Oct. 24-Nov. 2
Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.
Details: Adapted from the bestselling book ‘The Lightning Thief’ by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, this middle-school musical is an action-packed mythical adventure worthy of the gods. Contact: 651-336-8613 or childrensperformingartsmn.org
Candy Crawl
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
Where: Railroad Park, 4749 Washington Square
Details: Trick or treat your favorite downtown businesses. Contact: info@ downtownwhitebearlake.com
NOVEMBER
Bald Eagle Half Marathon
When: 7-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1
Where: Bald Eagle-Otter Lake Regional Park, 5767 Hugo Road
Details: Catch one more half marathon before the snow flies. The race will take you around the lake before finishing at the park. Pancake breakfast for the award ceremony following your run. All finishers receive a custom molded medal. Contact: 651-440-9625 or judi@ mmraces.com
‘Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella’
When: Nov. 14-22
Where: White Bear Lake Area High School Performing Arts Center, 5040 Bald Eagle Ave., Door A
Details: Join White Bear Area High School for the first musical on the new Performing Arts Center stage for the classic tale of a young woman
White Bear Lake Area Historical Society | Contributed
GANGSTER BUS TOUR
When: 10-11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
Where: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 Fourth St.
Details: Come along for an adventurous outing to explore the hideouts and haunts of the 1930s era gangsters who laid low in the cottages around White Bear and Bald Eagle Lakes.
Contact: 651-407-5327 or office@whitebearhistory.org
looking for her Prince Charming while outwitting her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. This musical is sure to be the perfect fit as you step off into the holiday season.
Contact: sites.google.com/isd624. org/musical-theatre/home
Gazebo Lighting and Holiday Open House
When: Nov. 19-20
Where: Downtown White Bear Lake
Details: Kick off the holidays by watching the gazebo light up at Matoska Park on Wednesday, followed by an evening of shopping locally at downtown retailers and restaurants. Contact: downtownwhitebearlake. com
‘Annie’
When: Nov. 21-Dec.14
Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.
Details: Little orphan Annie is given the chance of a lifetime when she’s invited to spend Christmas at the mansion of billionaire Oliver Warbucks in 1930s New York. Lakeshore Players
puts on this perennial holiday favorite. Contact: 651-478-7427 or tickets@ lakeshoreplayers.org
Fast Before the Feast
When: 7-9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27
Where: White Bear Lake County Park, 5050 Lake Ave.
Details: Join us for a charitable, heartwarming, holiday 10k, 5k and Turkey Dash that accommodates competitive runners as well as families pushing strollers and running with dogs. A portion of the proceeds for this race go to feed the hungry in our community.
Contact: 651-440-9625 or judi@ mmraces.com
DECEMBER
WBCA Members’ Exhibition 2025 Community Reception
When: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4
Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave.
Details: WBCA members ages 16 and up display their work in a non-juried
show—2D and 3D media submissions are included.
Contact: 651-407-0597 or wbca@ whitebeararts.org
Saint Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show
When: Dec. 5-7
Where: St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd.
Details: Nearly 200 exhibits geared to ice fishermen and winter sports enthusiasts.
Contact: stpaulicefishingshow.com
Jingle Bear 5K and Kids Fun Run
When: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6
Where: White Bear Lake County Park, 5050 Lake Ave.
Details: Run for all ages and abilities. Registration includes jingle bells for shoes. Holiday costumes, dogs on leashes and strollers welcome.
Contact: mmraces.com
Winterfest
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 13
Where: Railroad Park, 4749 Washington Square
Details: Meet Santa and his elves, go on carriage rides, listen to holiday carolers and more.
Contact: info@ downtownwhitebearlake.com
River City Chorale Christmas Concert
When: 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
Where: St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 120 East Ave., Door #1
Details: This concert is a beautiful way for you, family and friends to gather and celebrate the joy, the magic and the music of the Christmas season.
Contact: 651-426-3261 or andy@ therivercitychorale.org
Chase and Ovation’s New Year’s Eve Tribute to Prince
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31
Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.
Details: Hailed by Prince’s own inner circle, this high-energy concert delivers the iconic hits just as they were meant to be heard. A must-see for Prince fans.
Contact: 651-478-7427 or tickets@ lakeshoreplayers.org
GRANDPA AND GRANDSON GO FULL THROTTLE WITH NEW CREATION
by Erik Suchy Staff Writer
Meet White Bear Lake resident Scott Lingle. By day, he teaches dentistry part-time at the University of Minnesota. Elsewhere, he’s hard at work designing his own wood creations and projects.
This summer, Lingle and his grandson Bodie have taken their designs to a new level with a brand-new creation: a fully functioning wooden hydroplane boat. “He’s learned to use more and more of the tools,” Lingle said of Bodie, “and he came up with the idea of wanting to build a boat.”
After extensive research, the two came to a final agreed-upon design: a Super Spartan hydroplane. “These plans have not changed in over 50 years,” Lingle said. “This is a very old-style hydroplane that’s designed to be made entirely out of wood.”
The planning process, according to Lingle, began taking off last Christmas when Bodie started to oversee the design plans for their soon-to-be-invented product. “We took eight sheets of carbon paper to be able to trace these plans onto larger pieces of paper. Last Christmas, we started tracing out parts, then went and bought some spruce. (Bodie) was out there on the bandsaw and started cutting out parts.”
By this summer, creating the Super Spartan was back in full swing, sometimes taking eight to 10 hours a day. While finishing the boat took less than three weeks, Lingle noted that one of the final touches to the design - painting - required patience and dedication.
“First, we had to paint with a coat of primer, wait a day, then paint another coat of the color. It takes three coats of marine paint. That was frustrating for Bodie because he would paint the whole thing and couldn’t do anything until the next day when the next coat could be put on,” Lingle said.
Lingle initially placed a fourhorsepower motor in the boat. However, persuasion from both Bodie and Lingle’s granddaughter, Alaina, led to a 10-horsepower one being installed instead. “It took him two or three days before he got it to a wide-open throttle. They both got Minnesota boater safety permits and passed the safety course, too.”
Lingle himself is no stranger to solo woodworking as a hobby, often spending his free time designing furniture, charcuterie boards, cribbage sets and band saw boxes. However, working with Bodie on the boat left a new impact on him, as he saw it as an accomplishment he had never tried before.
“He loves to be in the shop. I guess I knew his skills all along, but reading the instructions was what I appreciated most. There were times when we were a little confused on the next step, and by the time I came home from work, he had it figured out!”
Compared to Lingle’s current roster of wood-based creations, the Super Spartan will maintain a permanent presence in the family. “This is something that’s going to be here forever. Someday, Bodie will be teaching his kids how to drive it. I think that’s the real fun thing about it.” ◼
Photos by Scott Lingle | Contributed Over the summer, White Bear Lake resident Scott Lingle and his grandson, Bodie, designed a fully functional wooden hydroplane boat.
Bodie and Scott worked on the design of the boat together, with a little help from Scott’s granddaughter Alaina.
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
HOME IS THE GETAWAY DESTINATION: PUTTING DOWN ROOTS
By Logan Gion Contributing Writer
The Moline home is a log cabin. Actually it’s much more like a log lodge. Stocky tree trunks stack atop one another to form the exterior and interior walls while the backyard deck overlooks White Bear Lake. Sitting on a lacquered, single-piece, carved walnut bench overlooking a hill of wild clover and native grasses that fall away down to the water’s edge, one could easily think this house was tucked away in the Boundary Waters, no one around for miles—certainly not less than five minutes from downtown White Bear Lake.
For Joel and his wife, Rachel, that’s the point.
“I wanted to have a space where I was happy to be here versus go somewhere else,” Joel explained. “When I do travel, it’s to meet up with friends. We would never just get in the car and go (somewhere); I’d rather stay here.”
As for the log-cabin theme, Joel grew up going to his father’s boss’s cabin in Nisswa, Minnesota. When Joel’s friend built the home in 2005, Joel found himself drawn to the property.
“(My friend) would call me and ask, ‘Do you want to grab dinner in Stillwater?’ I would always say, ‘How about I grab pizza and a bottle of wine and bring it to the cabin?’” Joel recalled. “Did I just love coming out here because it reminded me of my childhood?”
Eventually, the friend sold Joel the property, which came with a standard grass lawn. The yard now, though, is anything but standard.
Although his fondness for cabins began in childhood, Joel did not fall in love with gardening until well into adulthood, when he lived on the St. Croix River. Before that, he lived in a condo in Minneapolis. “Not a lot of garden space there,” Joel said with a chuckle. “I bought the house on the river, and it had beautiful gardens. I bought it from this elderly couple that no longer could take care of it. And I felt this
obligation to take care of their gardens, so that's how it started.”
At his Stillwater residence, Joel planted over 100 miniature pine trees. He wound paths through the yard and a trail down to the riverside. “I was literally perched on the cliff,” he said, “and I created a space where you could hang out and pretend you were in the middle of nowhere.”
Because his White Bear Lake home has a log-cabin theme, Joel said he believes the middle-of-nowhere feeling is even more appropriate. The transformation, which took five years, is now complete with Japanese weeping pines, Cass Gilbert lawn ornaments, and pollinator-friendly hillsides.
Concepts like “curated landscaping” and “wilderness” normally do not mix, but Joel fully embraces nature as a design partner. “Even when random weeds come up, if I like them, I keep them,”
CONTINUED ON 7B
Paul Dols | Press Publications
The lawn around Joel Moline's log home has been transformed with Japanese weeping pines, Cass Gilbert lawn ornaments and pollinator-friendly hillsides.
ACQUA Sweet Corn and Snow Crab Chowder
Ingredients
For the Corn Crab Stock:
Corn cobs from 12 cobs of corn
Snow crab shells from 2 pounds of snow crab (reserve pulled crab for soup)
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon white peppercorns
3 bay leaves
1.5 cups salt
½ cup sugar
4 quarts water
For the Snow Crab Soup:
Kernels from 12 cobs of corn (save the cobs!)
4 cups onion, diced
3 cups carrot, diced
2 cups celery, diced
½ pound butter, divided
- 1 ounce ground white pepper
- 2 ounces Old Bay seasoning
- 2 ounces salt
- 2 ounces sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup sherry
- 2 ounces Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cornstarch
- 8 ounces pulled snow crab
Instructions
1. Prepare the Corn Crab Stock:
In a large pot, combine corn cobs, snow crab shells, black peppercorns, white peppercorns, bay leaves, salt, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 45 minutes. Strain the stock, discarding the solids and reserving the liquid.
2. Make the Corn Crab Soup: In a large pot (or rondo), heat half the butter with a small amount of sauté oil over medium heat. Once heated, add the diced onions, carrots, celery, and half of the corn. Sauté until the vegetables are slightly tender and spices stick to the bottom, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in ground white pepper, Old Bay seasoning, salt, sugar, and black pepper. Deglaze the pot with sherry and Worcestershire sauce, cooking until the sherry reduces by half. Add the reserved corn cobs and corn stock, along with the
remaining corn. Blend half of the soup until smooth using a blender or immersion blender, then return it to the pot. Let it simmer for a few more minutes.
3. Thicken the Chowder: In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch with an equal amount of water to create a slurry. Add the cornstarch slurry to the soup, simmering for a few more minutes until thickened. Turn off the heat and stir in 1-2 cups of heavy cream and the reserved pulled crab to achieve your desired thickness. Add the remaining butter as well.
4. Serve and Store: Transfer the chowder to a stockpot or large container, label with the date, and store for future use.
Ingredients
2 ounces sake
1 ounce shochu
1 ounce
St. Germain elderflower liqueur
2 ounces rosé wine
Ice Edible orchid (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Chill the Glass: Start by chilling a cocktail glass by filling it with ice water. Set it aside while you prepare the cocktail.
2. Mix the Ingredients: In a mixing glass, combine the sake, shochu, and St. Germain elderflower liqueur.
3. Stir: Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir gently for about 30 seconds until well chilled.
4. Strain: Discard the ice water from your chilled cocktail glass. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the cocktail mixture into the glass.
5. Add Rosé: Gently pour the rosé wine over the top of the cocktail.
6. Garnish: Garnish with an edible orchid.
Photos by Paul Dols | Press Publications
SPIESS LANDING DEDICATION
Over the summer, the White Bear Lake Historical Society held a rededication ceremony for Spiess Landing at Matoska Park, the place adventurer Gerry Spiess first launched Yankee Girl on White Bear Lake. A member of the Spiess family, Jackie Potts, spoke at the event.
Pelco Construction made both the monument and the Yankee Girl replica. The stone monument was built offsite over the winter and dropped in place with a forklift. “We wanted to recognize (Spiess) and do something for him,” Don Peltier said.
Photos by White Bear Lake Historical Society and Pelco Construction | Contributed
LAKER LEGACY:
Rick Smith reflects on family history, how community has changed
By Tyler Quattrin News Intern
Rick Smith, 81, still lives in the house he grew up in on Bald Eagle Lake.
Built in 1895, it was purchased by his parents, Dick and Adelaide Smith, in 1945, when Rick was an infant.
His family’s connection to the lake, however, dates back even further. In the 1920s, he said, his grandparents, who lived in St. Paul, began spending their summers on the east side of the lake, in a house on Buffalo Street. He added that his grandmother was an opera singer who sang locally as well as in the Berlin Philharmonic in the 1920s and ’30s.
Dick Smith worked for adhesive company H.B. Fuller, and Adelaide Smith was known as the “story lady” for broadcasting children's stories on WMIM Radio in St Paul.
While he was growing up, Rick Smith said, the family used the lake in almost every way possible — especially waterskiing. He said he was close with White Bear Skis owner Tom Weinhagen and often
tested out new equipment for him. His family also belonged to the Bald Eagle Yacht Club and sailed Y-class boats.
After graduating from high school, serving in the U.S. Air Force and working in the securities business in Kansas, Rick Smith returned to the area in 1984 and spent years working as a developer. He moved back into his boyhood home and built a second home on the lot next door for his mother. That house now belongs to his son, Brad, who lives there with his wife, Kate, and their two children.
Rick Smith said the biggest change in the community is the growing population. No longer does everybody know each other like they used to and there are fewer community events now, he said. Additionally, as the area has become more suburban, pontoon boats have mostly replaced ski boats on the lake, he said.
He said that, over the years, he has noticed many changes in the lake’s environment. “The lake went from heavy pea-soup green to clear,” he said, adding that efforts by the
Bald Eagle Area Association and the Department of Natural Resources eventually cleaned up the lake by stopping runoff from farmland. Schools of bullheads once filled the lake, Smith recalls. He said he hasn’t caught one in decades, and he believes their decline began when walleye and muskies were introduced. Large clams and snails were also once common, he said, but have been gone since the late 1950s. Turkeys, which disappeared from the area when Smith was young, have returned. So have animals he never used to see, like possums, he said. Despite all the changes, Smith said he hopes social connections remain for future generations. “[The community] is changing, but I know where it came from. I know what was here before,” he said. “The knowledge of the history is very rewarding.” ◼
Photos Contributed
An old photograph of Rick Smith and his father Dick.
A newspaper article in the Pioneer Press about Dick Smith's race results.
YOUNG SAILORS MAKE THIS A YEAR TO WATCH AT SAILING SCHOOL
The White Bear Lake Sailing School has a younger team this year after many of its senior sailors graduated last year. But the talent of the young sailors have will make this a year to watch!
Any youth, fifth-grade and above, can join regardless of experience level. For more information, or to register for the fall season, contact sailwbss@gmail.com. ◼
Photos Contributed
Joel said, careful to use the term “volunteer” instead of “weed” in every instance thereafter. Bursts of prairie fleabane, ground ivy and creeping phlox fill the gaps between Joel’s ’s touches. The most unique volunteer grows on a boulder that a former neighbor gave to Joel before she moved. “It’s got this great moss growing on it,” Joel said, before pointing to a small conical flower, “and this is actually an astilbe that is planting itself.” Because of the moss, the astilbe is tiny—one of perhaps two dozen other plants that
make the rock its own miniature world.
The largest attraction of the yard is a variablespeed, rock-lined stream that begins on a small hill above his detached garage. It cuts through milkweed patches, hostas and hydrangeas and rushes into a koi pond resting opposite the front door. In the middle of the stream’s path is a wooden swing, rock-hewn benches and a remote-controlled fire pit. From this spot, astilbes next to him, Joel can survey his home and the lake beyond. ◼
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DRAGON BOATS CREATE SISTERHOOD ON THE WATER
By Madeline Dolby Shoreview Press Editor
Like many dragon boat crews, the Dragon Divas strive to improve their strength, endurance and teamwork. But for them, it’s not just about the race; it’s also about the journey. Each woman at the paddle is a breast cancer survivor.
The Dragon Divas started with 18 women. Now, there are over 120 active members, from those in their 30s to
age 85. Crew members come from all over the Twin Cities; 10 are from western Wisconsin.
This year, the crew will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
“We’re ordinary women, affecting an extraordinary change in our community.
And we remain that (way),” Dragon Divas founder, and Shoreview native, Mary Skrypek said. “We’re a support group, but we’re also a dragon-boat racing team. We care and we compete.
And that’s what make us different.”
The inspiration behind Dragon Divas came when Skrypek, a breast cancer survivor and retired physical therapist, attended a 2005 seminar at Mayo Clinic. There, researchers talked about the successes they had in studying cancers that typically affect women.
In the past, cancer survivors were warned against excessive upper-body exercise, in fear they would develop or aggravate a
complication of chemotherapy known as lymphedema—fluid retention that causes swelling in arms or legs.
At the seminar, Skrypek heard research that refuted those complications. A Canadian doctor, Don McKenzie, had organized a dragon boat team of 24 breast cancer survivors in Vancouver, British Columbia. He found no evidence that the exercise impaired
CONTINUED ON 5C
Amy Anderson | Contributed
The team grabs a photo after finishing one of their practices.
LIFE LONG SAILOR SHARES SECRETS FOR GETTING STARTED
By Tyler Quattrin News Intern
Ted Jagger was 2 or 3 years old the first time his parents took him sailing on Bald Eagle Lake, where he grew up and still lives.
“They set me up in a rowboat that had a sail and put a lifejacket on me and said ‘go have fun,’” he said. “‘If you can't get home with the sail, take the sail down and row home.’”
By age 9, Jagger began racing sailboats. He continues to compete in the White Bear Yacht Club’s A boat races on Monday nights.
Jagger said the best way for beginners to get started is by spending time on the water with someone experienced.
“First off, you might decide you don't like it. Second, you might love it and then you can either keep crewing for these people or you can decide to get your own boat,” he said.
Most sailors are eager to welcome newcomers, he said.
“Walk down to their dock, say hi, go to the yacht club, meet people, go to some social gatherings where the sailors are at,” Jagger said.
One of the first challenges for beginners, Jagger said, is learning how wind direction affects a sailboat’s movement.
If the sails are not aligned properly, wind can push the boat off course or make it difficult to maneuver.
Understanding how to position the sails and read the wind takes practice, and Jagger said the best way to learn is by spending time on the water with experienced sailors.
Beginners often choose windy days to practice, however, Jagger recommends calm conditions for early lessons so small mistakes are easier to manage.
For kids, Jagger believes the best introduction to sailing is about fun, not formal lessons.
He recalls earning a sailing merit badge as a Boy Scout, where instructors taught through terminology in a book. “It would have been a lot better had everybody had even 15-20 minutes, a one-hour tutorial on the water with somebody who knew what was going on and then they catch on,” he said.
That philosophy shapes the “kids' event” he helps organize on Bald Eagle Lake each August. The
program, held on Sunday afternoons, focuses on socializing and building comfort on the water through fun activities.
“We really don't teach the sailing. We just do it,” he said.
Books and videos on sailing can provide helpful background, but Jagger said they make more sense after time spent on the water.
Jagger equates sailing to tennis or pickleball. “You go learn and you play a while, and then you watch videos or you talk to people and you pick up tips, but if somebody gives you tips from the beginning, you don't have any reference for which to put the tip to any use. So you gotta grow with the sport,” he said.
Lakes such as White Bear, Bald Eagle, Calhoun and Minnetonka are good for beginners looking to learn with others, Jagger said.
Programs at the White Bear Sailing School are also great for kids to discover if they enjoy sailing, he added. Even after a lifetime of experience, Jagger said there is always something new to learn. “I’ve been doing it 65 years,” he said. “I’m still learning every week.” ◼
Washington County Sheriff's Office patrols Washington County lakes and rivers including: Bone Lake, Forest Lake, Big Marine Lake, White Bear Lake, Lake Elmo, Big Carnelian Lake, Lake De Montreville and Lake Olson, Jane Lake, the St. Croix River, the Mississippi River and more. The Water, Parks, and Trails Unit is dedicated to providing the law enforcement services to citizens enjoying the county’s abundant water, park and trail resources. The unit is comprised of a sergeant, two full-time deputy sheriffs, seasonal full-time licensed deputy sheriffs and a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff group.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY BOAT PATROL
Suppose you ask Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Freemyer why he loves patrolling bodies of water such as White Bear Lake, Bald Eagle Lake, Forest Lake and the St. Croix River. He’ll tell you it’s because he gets to “be with people who are recreating and having a good time. For the most part, they’re not stressed by their day-to-day lives.”
Depending on the day — and the season — a shift on the water for Freemyer can be routine or demanding. But no matter the intensity, working boat patrol is something that has always put a smile on his face and fueled his desire to serve the Ramsey and Washington County communities. Press Publications recently sat down with Freemyer to discuss the benefits of boat patrol and how the nature of his work has evolved.
Q: Describe a typical day of patrolling around a Ramsey/ Washington County lake or river.
A: It depends on the day. If it’s a weekend and there’s nice weather, it’s very busy out there. I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a typical day, but we just kind of go with the flow. Some days it can be very busy, and on
other days it’s not. It’s very weatherdependent for us. We talk to a lot of people when it’s cloudy and rainy too. Whether it’s White Bear Lake or the St. Croix River, there’s no difference in how we patrol it.
Q: What are the main safety concerns on White Bear Lake and Washington County lakes?
A: With all the traffic on the lake (White Bear), it would be “slow down” and wear a personal flotation device. I can’t stress those two things enough. On a calm day, the lake is very rough because of all the waves caused by boat traffic. Boating is boating; it doesn’t matter what body of water you’re on. You have to be paying attention because you know someone else isn’t.
Q: How do you enforce boating laws or Department of Natural Resources regulations?
A: Safety is our main concern, as is driving conduct. Sometimes we worry about registrations, but our primary concern is safety. Personally, I worry about careless disregard for motoring — rules-of-the-road kind of stuff. That
doesn’t matter if it’s White Bear Lake or anywhere we’re patrolling. We’re not all about just issuing tickets. We might have a little talk about what someone was doing, although there’s not necessarily a ticket involved with these boat stops.
Q: What kind of equipment or technology do you rely on for patrolling lakes?
A: We rely heavily on our GPS lake maps for hazards. Our Washington County deputies use night vision to assist us. Some of our boats have thermal systems for nighttime patrol. We also have good old-fashioned spotlights; sometimes going old school works well. We’ll use drones for search and rescue but also rely on the State Patrol.
Q: How do seasonal changes affect your patrol strategies and priorities?
A: From the time school’s out until classes start back up again, that’s our busy time. We make a concerted effort to be on the water every day doing patrols of White Bear, Bald Eagle and other bodies of water within our county. When we get into late September and October, we tend not to be on the water
every day — that’s when we’re doing maintenance work.
Q: Over the years, what changes have you observed in the nature of your work or the community?
A: When we were in the COVID pandemic, there were a lot of people out on the water, and that has since settled down. Watching the number of boaters change in cycles is the biggest thing I see. As far as technology goes, that has been the greatest advancement since I first started; we were very limited then, and now everything is pretty much electronic and technical. That’s the biggest change I’ve seen.
Q: How can residents help law enforcement maintain safety and order around lakes?
A: Be courteous and be patient. On the boat landings and out on the water, that’s where you see a lot of reckless and careless driving due to impatient people. I would remind people to take their time and use common sense when they’re out there.
Compiled by Erik Suchy ◼
any woman’s health. In fact, McKenzie found that the exercise seemed beneficial.
“It’s like a beacon of hope that went out to breast cancer survivors that said, ‘We can be strong. We can be healthy. We can do what gives us joy in life: picking our kids up, gardening, playing tennis and playing golf,’” Skrypek said.
She added that McKenzie’s study caused breast cancer survivors all over the world to get into dragon boats and honor his research.
“His study showed that we can not only survive breast cancer, but we can thrive after breast cancer,” she said.
That same year, Skrypek organized the first Twin Cities dragon boat team. In April, the first practice was held on White Bear Lake with eight crew members. Now, the crew practices four times a week on Lake Gervais in Little Canada.
Mahtomedi resident Ingrid Schneider-Sougstad has been a crew member since 2021. She found out about the Dragon Divas through a community education program. “I’m really inspired by the strength, stamina and spirit each member has,” she said. “I’m also really honored to be a part of such an amazing crew. We are bound by that strength, but we are also bound by our survival and unwavering support.”
The Divas typically race at five
dragon boat festivals throughout North America, including Vancouver, British Columbia. Every four years, the crew participates in the international breast cancer survivor dragon boat race. The Divas first competed in the international race in 2010. For more information, visit the Dragon Diva’s website at www. dragondivasmn.org or email dragondivas@gmail.com. ◼
Amy Anderson | Contributed
The Dragon Divas, formed in 2006 by Mary Skrypek, practice on Lake Gervais in Little Canada. The team consists of approximately 120 crew members.
WATER LEVELS ON WHITE BEAR LAKE ABOVE AVERAGE
White Bear Lake was at an elevation of 923.49 feet as of Aug. 19. This is about an inch above the average lake level, according to Mike Parenteau of the White Bear Lake Conservation District Board. Scan QR above to view current lake levels at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/csg/site.html?id=82016700.
Photos by Carter Johnson
A LITTLE DOG JUST FOCUSES ON WHAT SHE DOES BEST
Lucy adjust to the separation from the only life she’d known as yet? How could Tanner make clear to this bewildered little blob of teddy bear fluff that all would be well? But on the ride home, Lucy seemed more preoccupied than perturbed. She continuously stared at Tanner in a very direct, probing way. What was that about?
By Ricka McNaughton Contributing Writer
Each issue of The Laker introduces you to an area “lake dog” and their human(s). The first clue to Lucy’s intuitive powers, or whatever you want to call them, occurred when she was just a pup. Lucy is Tanner Brown’s dog, a Mini Bernedoodle. When Tanner first went to claim her from the breeder, she wondered: How would
A dog can sense infrared heat, magnetic fields and the emotional states of others by natural means far superior to our own. Degrees of acuity vary by individual, of course, but their roughly 200 million smell receptors (humans have a mere 6 million) may tell them more about your character and qualms in under a minute than a good psychologist could suss out in an hour. By means of these powers, Lucy seemed to have formed a conclusion by the time Tanner got her home. Right off, she seemed to approve of Tanner in a major way, sticking happily by her side, and behaving as though perfectly confident that some bright new life together awaited them. Either that, or Lucy just likes to stare at people.
Ready or not, Lucy was about to embark
Pontoon Trailers
on the life of a lake dog with an extended lake-oriented family. Tanner herself grew up playing in and on the water. Tanner’s parents are Jason and Angie Brown, owners of White Bear Boat Works. To go even deeper, her grandparents are Skip and Marge Johnson (Jason’s parents), owners of the former Johnson Boat Works, a renowned family business dating back to 1896 that came to garner wide acclaim as builders and designers of racing sailboats. When Tanner’s at her job downtown, Lucy is shuttled to the White Bear Boat Works where she spends a lot of time with Tanner’s folks and their own two dogs. With a family legacy to uphold, Lucy’s been working diligently, sort of, on her lake dog credentials.
Now just shy of two-years-old, Lucy has so far mastered two core lake dog competencies. These are: 1) Learning to love the water and 2) Chilling on a boat while the humans do all the work. The chilling part came easy. But Lucy was a tad terrified of water at first until Jason and Angie’s dogs showed her what was what. Then she came around. It’s good to have
such aquatic sports experts in the family. If you are a visitor to her domain, Lucy may well greet you in an endearingly weird way. She’ll turn on the jets, making straight up-and-down hops of welcome. As in: Hello…Boing! Hello…Boing! But that done, she settles right down. If you visit, Tanner would prefer that you not encourage these vertical acrobatics. But how can you resist such an overt approval of your presence? Can it be that Lucy has detected something of your best inner self, buried beneath layers of mistaken self-doubt? Is it possible you may feel a more worthy person thanks to a small dog’s good opinion of your character? Or is Lucy just saying, “Look at me! I’m a Kangaroodle!” This of course has nothing to do with being a lake dog. Lucy’s just a lake dog who happens to have this knack for seeing right into someone’s heart. Or, makes you feel as though she does. Practically speaking, that’s a distinction without much of a difference.
Ricka McNaughton is a writer living in White Bear Lake. ◼
Ricka McNaughton | Contributed Tanner Brown and aspiring lake dog Lucy, aboard their pontoon on White Bear Lake.
TALKING MINNESOTA’S MIGRATORY BIRDS WITH U OF M
World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday in May and October to raise awareness of migratory birds and their habitats. This year’s second observance is Oct. 11.
Avian Ecologist Steve Kolbe with the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth answers questions about migratory bird populations in Minnesota, their migration routes and patterns and the condition of their habitats.
Q. What species of migratory birds are commonly found in Minnesota and where?
A: Minnesota contains varied habitats — from grasslands in the west and bottomland deciduous forests in the southeast to boreal forests in the north. The combination of these habitats in a single state means that Minnesota is an extremely biodiverse state during migration (and the summer breeding season)! Additionally, the harsh winter
conditions we experience in Minnesota mean the majority of birds migrate away from the state each fall. Combine these two factors and we see massive numbers of birds of a wide range of species leaving and returning to the state each year. Minnesota is also fortunate because it’s the end of the migratory journey for a wide range of species that spend the summer in the state. Many southern states see species such as warblers only during spring and fall migration, but in Minnesota we get to enjoy them all summer long!
One of the first signs of spring is the huge flocks of geese and waterfowl that arrive as soon as open water is available. This year, many of these species migrated north very early due to the mild winter and lack of ice cover in the early spring. Eagles and hawks migrate back in large numbers throughout March and April. These birds are soon accompanied by the arrival of short-distance migrants such as American Robins, Red-winged
Blackbirds and Eastern Bluebirds that have spent the winter in the southern United States. After the weather warms and leaves start to appear on trees, long-distance migrants — species that have spent the winter in Central or South America — such as orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, and warblers begin to arrive and prepare for the breeding season. Birdwatchers are able to see well over 100 species of birds in a morning during this peak spring migration season along migratory corridors such as the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers and Lake Superior.
In the fall, this pattern is reversed. Long-distance migrants leave as early as late July and early August, and short-distance migrants trickle south throughout September and early October. Eagle and hawk numbers peak in October as the weather starts to turn, and finally the small number of hardy migratory species, such as finches, that spend the winter in Minnesota arrive in November and December.
Q. What is the typical migration route for these migratory birds? And how do they get there?
A: Migration routes vary depending on the species and the location of their non-breeding grounds. For most species, the well-worn concept of migratory flyways is a gross oversimplification. Spring migration routes that end in places as distant as Alaska and Hudson Bay cross in Minnesota. Similarly, birds that winter on the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Coast, and Central and South America all pass through the state in the fall.
In general, most spring migrants fly as directly as possible to their breeding grounds in order to occupy the best territories as quickly as possible. In the fall, birds will often take a more southeasterly route at a more leisurely pace to get to their wintering grounds.
The majority of bird species migrate at night and use multiple cues to help them navigate in darkness, including magnetic and
polarized light fields and the stars. During a typical night of migration, an individual bird likely tries to travel as far as it can, given its energy stores and the flying conditions. Some species, such as Tundra Swans and Sandhill Cranes, are dependent on very specific habitats during migration and will follow traditional migratory routes and stop at the exact same areas each year. Because these species migrate in groups — often including adults and their offspring — knowledge of these prime stopover areas is passed down to future generations. Species that migrate during the day are much more likely to use geographic landmarks like river valleys or lake shorelines as landmarks and to use soaring flight, which utilizes updrafts off ridgelines or thermals of rising air produced by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.
Q. How and what changes in habitats impact migratory birds and their migratory behavior?
A: Of the approximately 315 species that are regularly detected in Minnesota, nearly 250 breed in the state. Quality habitat that provides food and shelter is critical for birds during migration and for breeding activities. In terms of migration, the majority of birds are relatively flexible and use any available stopover habitat that they can find. Some bird species stop for a day, or even a few hours, during which time they try to regain fat stores used to migrate by eating as much as possible. Other birds stay for much longer to refuel or wait for
Photos Contributed Red-winged blackbirds migrate to the southern United States and northern Mexico for winter.
Steve Kolbe is an avian ecologist and staff member of the Avian Ecology Lab at the Natural Resources Research Institute.
SHORE LEAVE ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼
MIGRATORY BIRDS | FROM 9C
nice weather before making another migratory flight. For all species, habitat quantity and quality are the most pressing concerns. If a bird is unable to find enough suitable stopover habitat, it will be unable to refuel and make another migratory leap. Because human presence on the landscape in much of the state is high, we must make sure that as much natural habitat is saved as possible. Additionally, if a bird stops over at a site of lower quality, such as a site filled with invasive plant species, it may take much longer to gain enough nutrients to prepare for the next leg of the journey. Ensuring high quality stop-over and breeding habitat is available for all birds is a top priority for bird conservation!
Q. How do migratory birds respond to extreme weather events?
A: Birds have an amazing ability to respond to changes in the weather. In the spring, birds are incentivized by the choice of good breeding territories to arrive on the breeding grounds as soon as it is possible for them to find food and survive. However, when unexpected weather such as the snow and ice storms we sometimes experience in the spring occur, birds will often reverse course and migrate south until conditions improve before heading farther north.
Q. What are you doing to advance research on Minnesota’s migratory birds?
A: The Avian Ecology Lab at the
Natural Resources Research Institute is on the cutting edge of the study of migratory bird species in Minnesota. We specialize in using the latest technology to answer questions about how, where, when, and why birds migrate. For example, along with collaborators across North America, we have placed geolocators and GPS tags on Common Terns, American Woodcock and Golden-winged Warblers in order to understand migration routes and where they spend the winter.
Our group is also heavily involved in a global effort called the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. The goal of this project is to use automated telemetry to track the migratory movements of birds that are too small to be equipped with more sophisticated GPS tracking devices. Our group currently has nine stations along the north and south shore of Lake Superior. These stations have detected birds that were tagged as far away as Maryland and British Columbia! These new technologies have helped us to start to unravel the mysteries of migration and help inform conservation of Minnesota's birds.
Steve Kolbe is an avian ecologist and staff member of the Avian Ecology Lab at the Natural Resources Research Institute. He has a special interest in bird migration and movement, testing novel survey methodologies and acoustic identification. Kolbe’s research focuses on the ways in which birds use their environment at varying scales throughout the annual cycle. ◼
LeAnn Michael | Contributed Wood ducks typically spend winters in the southeastern United States.
LeAnn Michael | Contributed
The Canada Goose is one of the first migrants to arrive in the spring.
Contributed
Flocks of ducks, geese and swans congregate in early spring as soon as open water is available.
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