Laura Erickson's For the Birds

Laura Erickson's For the Birds

"For the Birds" began airing on KUMD in Duluth, MN, in May, 1986, and is the longest continually-running radio program about birds in the U.S. Hundreds more episodes are available for free at http://www.lauraerickson.com/radio/.

Episodes

July 16, 2025 7 mins
On July 14, BB the Pileated Woodpecker turned up in Laura's yard with a daughter!
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Back in 2022, Laura was interviewed by a writer for LIFE magazine. It totally slipped her mind until one of her friends read the article, which is on newsstands now.
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Watching backyard nests can be very joyful, when starlings or predators don't intervene.
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As much as Laura loves watching baby birds, she is very reluctant to look for nests.
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June 26, 2025 5 mins
Birds don’t ostracize individuals from their social flocks based on “objective sex-based differences.” That would undermine their civil society.
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June 25, 2025 7 mins
Birds don’t ostracize individuals from their social flocks based on “objective sex-based differences.” That would undermine their civil society.
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June 24, 2025 6 mins
One of Laura's readers was distressed by the last episode of "For the Birds." Laura stands by every word. We can protect our pets from diseases and also protect our backyard birds with one simple, straightforward rule: If your pets get flea and tick protection, don’t set out their fur for nesting birds.
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Treatments to protect dogs (and us!) from insect bites turn out to make that pet fur, and our own treated clothing, dangerous for birds.
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June 10, 2025 4 mins
It's been over 4 months since Laura saw her beloved BB, but now he's back!
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June 5, 2025 6 mins
Four-year-olds should not have any concept of the Air Quality Index. What world are we bequeathing them?
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June 3, 2025 5 mins
Laura thinks the sudden surge in Red-headed Woodpeckers in her neck of the woods may be due to emerald ash borer and the sudden surge in dead ash trees.
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May 30, 2025 6 mins
In many ways birds are superior to us humans, and also luckier. This is exactly the kind of program that has inspired some people to call Laura the "Dr. Ruth of Ornithology." The accompanying blog post has a lot of worthwhile photos listeners might want to see.
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May 27, 2025 8 mins
This bird of machismo and contradiction keeps scientists guessing.
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May 22, 2025 5 mins
Laura doesn't like the idea of bucket lists, but she does have a wish list.
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May 14, 2025 6 mins
Laura feels wealthy in ways Elon Musk or Donald Trump never will.
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May 13, 2025 6 mins
Laura's trip to Florida's Dry Tortugas was a wonderful success.
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April 29, 2025 5 mins
Laura and her birding buddy Bernie went to Chamber's Grove last Wednesday to see the annual visit by hundreds of American White Pelicans.
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April 25, 2025 6 mins
Laura reflects on this year's Earth Day compared to the first Earth Day in 1970.
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April 22, 2025 5 mins
Laura talks about taking photos through window glass.
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April 17, 2025 5 mins
Laura is headed to South America next month, and is studying up.
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