When does autumn begin?
There are many different ways to pinpoint the end of summer and the start of autumn.
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/.
Subscribe:.rss.atom.json.md.m3u.pls
Overdue Last read · last published · next check
Last read 4 days ago, longer than this feed's 2 days schedule.
Latest episodes
Saves to your Listen queue, to pick up on another day or another device.
Forget Forgetfulness, Part 2: Blue Jays Just Wanna Have Fun
Squirrels hoard food supplies. Blue Jays hoard food AND toys.
Forget Forgetfulness, Part 1--Symbiosis between Blue Jays and oaks.
Laura talks about the relationship between Blue Jays and oaks
Peabody Street Happenings
Lots of comings and goings on Peabody Street.
Hope for the Future
Hunter Biden’s splendid blog is filled with hope, redemption, and even some birds. (NON-political.)
Bird Life on Islands
Why do oceanic islands have so many species we don't see anywhere else? And why does the geologic history of an island make a difference in how many and what species live there?
A future trip jogs memories of a past trip
Laura and Russ are headed to the Galápagos Islands next year. The tour leader, Alvaro Jamarillo, is someone Laura met almost 20 years ago on a different tour.
Monarchs as Bird Food
Monarch caterpillars and butterflies are supposed to be toxic, but birds haven't always gotten that memo. (The blog post accompanying this program has a LOT of cool photos and videos, especially of the monarch's life cycle.)
Air Quality, Part 2
Even as Laura is as furious as she is terrified of the horrible conditions in Duluth right now, she's finding beauty.
Air quality, Part 1
This past week, the Air Quality Index in Duluth reached at least 1134 even as the temperature on Laura's front porch exceeded 100ºF. This situation is terrifying.
Canada Jay: What's in a Name?
Laura talks about an exceptionally friendly bird and why it's hard for her to remember its name.
Blue Jays: Family Ties, Part 2
The summer of 1991, Laura and her children raised four baby Blue Jays, embedding the little things deeply in Laura's heart.
To Sin by Silence
On our nation's birthday, Laura is thinking about our right to free speech and our obligation to exercise it.
Moving Forward, and Now Backward, on the Lead Issue
Two different California governors, a Republican and a Democrat, did their best to protect California Condors from the scourge of lead ammo. The Obama and Biden administrations did their best to at least protect wildlife on some national wildlife refuges, but in both cases, the Trump administration reversed their actions.
How Lead in Ammo and Tackle Harm Wildlife
Wildlife suffer much more than humans do from the lead hunters and anglers use.
How Lead in Hunters' Ammo Harms Humans
The lead in the shot and bullets fired at shooting ranges and by hunters harms human beings. Laura explains how.
Lead in Human History
Within days of the start taking office in his first administration, Donald Trump rescinded an Obama administration rule outlawing lead ammo and tackle on all national wildlife refuges. The Biden administration created a new rule outlawing the use of lead by hunters and anglers in just 8 national wildlife refuges, but now the Trump administration is reversing that. This week Laura discusses the…
Blue Jays--Family Ties, Part 1
Blue Jays have figured prominently in Laura's family life for many decades.
Ludwig Part 3
Ludwig the Blue Jay taught Laura a lot of important lessons.
Ludwig the Blue Jay, Part 2
Ludwig, the baby Blue Jay Laura took care of in 1979, taught her all kinds of interesting things.
Ludwig the Blue Jay, Part 1
The Blue Jay is among Laura's top three favorite birds, in large part because of one individual bird.
My Top Ten Favorite Birds
Laura does not have a favorite child, but she does have a favorite bird--the one who feels like part of her immediate family.
Not a very warm welcome
A cold spring can be hard on birds.
You CAN Go Home Again
Laura revisited one of her most beloved places on the planet two weeks ago, and had a lovely time.
Down to the Wire (Time Sensitive)
Duluthians have only 5 days left to sign two petitions to protect a beautiful, beloved park in Duluth.
Whip-poor-will
When Laura was in Ohio earlier this month, she saw roosting whip-poor-wills for the first time in half a century.
NDAs and Our Culture of Secrecy, Part 2: Democracy dies in darkness
Democratic values, and our lives, are damaged when politicians, developers, and corporations keep secrets regarding critical details about projects that will harm communities or give away public lands. I apologize for the poor sound quality--I recorded this in my hotel room in Chicago and mixed it on my laptop.
NDAs and Our Culture of Secrecy, Part 1: Not All Secrets Are Bad.
Laura never used to be suspicious about secrets because one that she kept as a small child was so very important to her.
An Essay by My Inspirational Mentor
Laura shares an essay written this month by the Michigan State professor who changed her life.
"Anything Can Happen" Day
Birding is wonderful both for its predictability and its unpredictable moments.
Thank You, Horned Larks
One of Laura's most magical experiences in Colorado came about because she tried, and failed, to get pictures of a little flock of Horned Larks.
The Colors of Everyday Life
Laura just got home from a trip to Colorado and got to thinking about *The Wizard of Oz*.
Harris's Hawk and the Movie "Hamnet"
Agnes's bird in the movie and book, *Hamnet* is specified to be a falcon--a kestrel. But the falcon was portrayed in the movie by a completely unrelated bird from an entirely different continent--a Harris's Hawk. Laura didn't mind this at all--indeed, there were excellent reasons for using this "incorrect" species. Laura is in Colorado right now--this was recorded in her hotel room. She doesn't…
For the Birds Retrospective, Part 3: Things start to get silly.
Most "For the Birds" programs have been pretty straightforward, but Laura's occasionally done some silly programs.
For the Birds Retrospective Part 2-Radio?!
Laura never imagined doing anything on the radio, until a cataclysmic event made her rush in to fill a vacuum.
For the Birds Retrospective: Part 1, seeking my niche in the Duluth birding community
As "For the Birds" approaches its 40th anniversary next month, Laura's thinking back on what made her start this radio show in the first place. The family portrait photo was taken within a month or two of my starting "For the Birds." (No April Fools Day program this year--Laura couldn't find anything fun in the news.)
OLDIE: Jim Baker's Oil of Ojay
I'm not sure when this first aired--probably around 2000--but I am adding it now because I'm posting several funny programs in time for April Fool's Day.
OLDIE: Jim Baker's Blue Jay Board Games
A commercial for Jim Baker's new assortment of board games to keep your Blue Jays entertained.
OLDIE: Turn Around
The California Ravens sang this oldie sometime around 2000. Katherine Erickson on piano.
OLDIE: Jim Baker's Jaybelline Eye Cosmetics
Another oldie from 20 or 30 years ago, an ad for a new line of products available at Baker's Blue Jay Barn. (Jim Baker voiced by John Keenan.)
OLDIE: Where, Oh Where
When this oldie got stuck in my head with new lyrics, I wanted to record it, but my normal accompanist plays piano and this needed a different sound. KUMD was in the basement of UMD's music department, and one day I mustered the courage to ask a professor I often saw in the hall if he had any kids who could do the musical background. They were Darin Bergsven, Nate Perbix, and John Sommerfeld, and…
OLDIE: Testimonials about Earth Angel Bird Identification Binoculars
Earth Angel hears from two satisfied customers, "Lars," whose Earth Angel Bird Identification Binoculars saved his life, and Juliet Montague, who settled an argument with her husband thanks to these amazing optics. For one month, I launched an hour-long program, "Wake Robin," with interviews, music, silly ads, and lots of fun stuff about birds. But I couldn't get anyone at KUMD interested in…
OLDIE: Baker's Blue Jay Video Games
This was from a December sometime in the 90s.
OLDIE: Baker's Blue Jay Blend: Not Just for Blue Jays Anymore
Jim Baker discovers the wonder of chickadees!
The Brown Creeper Who Went to School
One of Laura's most memorable experiences happened when she was teaching in Madison, Wisconsin, and a Brown Creeper spent time in her classroom. (This was reworked from April 21, 2020.)
Brown Creepers
One of Laura's favorite early spring migrants should be turning up any day now. (Much of the content is redone from April 17, 2020)
The costs of AI and the "Cloud" (Revised and updated)
If we can't find out how much energy and water are consumed by various AI and large database programs, how can we make good decisions about using them? IMPORTANT: I've Updated this program based on new information. This is the new, accurate version.
Our Growing Reliance on Big Data
A great many things we do, including listening to this radio program or podcast, involve Big Data.
Of Baseball, Curling, and Boreal Owls
There must be a connection, right?
The Green Green Grass of Golf
Laura used to be more wowed by the beauty of golf courses than by real wilderness.