Laura Erickson's For the Birds

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.

Laura talks about an exceptionally friendly bird and why it's hard for her to remember its name.

The summer of 1991, Laura and her children raised four baby Blue Jays, embedding the little things deeply in Laura's heart.

On our nation's birthday, Laura is thinking about our right to free speech and our obligation to exercise it.

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.

Wildlife suffer much more than humans do from the lead hunters and anglers use.

The lead in the shot and bullets fired at shooting ranges and by hunters harms human beings. Laura explains how.

Within days of the start taking office in his first administration, Donald Trump rescinded an Obama administration rule outlawing lead ammo and tackle on all national wildlife refuges.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 issue in depth, starting today with how lead has been used in human history.

Blue Jays have figured prominently in Laura's family life for many decades.

Ludwig the Blue Jay taught Laura a lot of important lessons.

Ludwig, the baby Blue Jay Laura took care of in 1979, taught her all kinds of interesting things.

The Blue Jay is among Laura's top three favorite birds, in large part because of one individual bird.

Laura does not have a favorite child, but she does have a favorite bird--the one who feels like part of her immediate family.

A cold spring can be hard on birds.

Laura revisited one of her most beloved places on the planet two weeks ago, and had a lovely time.

Duluthians have only 5 days left to sign two petitions to protect a beautiful, beloved park in Duluth.

When Laura was in Ohio earlier this month, she saw roosting whip-poor-wills for the first time in half a century.

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.

Laura never used to be suspicious about secrets because one that she kept as a small child was so very important to her.

Laura shares an essay written this month by the Michigan State professor who changed her life.

Birding is wonderful both for its predictability and its unpredictable moments.

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.

Laura just got home from a trip to Colorado and got to thinking about *The Wizard of Oz*.

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 know if there will be more new programs this week--after today this is going to be one intense birding trip.

Most "For the Birds" programs have been pretty straightforward, but Laura's occasionally done some silly programs.

Laura never imagined doing anything on the radio, until a cataclysmic event made her rush in to fill a vacuum.

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.)

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.

A commercial for Jim Baker's new assortment of board games to keep your Blue Jays entertained.

The California Ravens sang this oldie sometime around 2000. Katherine Erickson on piano.

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.)

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 were very fun to record in the studio—I'd never done that before! Of course, there was no way in heck I could record my own voice while they were listening! At the time, I was in the Duluth Symphony Chorus, but unless my voice is hidden within a chorus, I am strictly a closet singer.

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 helping with production. Tim Winker, "the VOICE of the North Woods" and one of KUMD's most creative volunteers, helped me each week, running the board and making sure everything went okay, but without sponsors, I couldn't pay anyone (much less myself), and it took about 60 hours each week for me to get the pre-recorded segments written and produced. So it didn't last. This was one of the segments on that program. Tim Winker introduced the piece, Karen Keenan played Earth Angel, Russ Erickson played Lars, and Stephanie Hemphill played Juliet Montague.

This was from a December sometime in the 90s.

Jim Baker discovers the wonder of chickadees!

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.)

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)

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.

A great many things we do, including listening to this radio program or podcast, involve Big Data.

There must be a connection, right?

Laura used to be more wowed by the beauty of golf courses than by real wilderness.

What looks beautiful and natural to untrained eyes can have a very dark side.

Fishing line is still a clear and present danger for birds.

In George Clooney's 2025 movie, *Jay Kelly*, his movie star character says, reviewing his life, "All my memories are movies." It turns out just about all Laura's memories are birds.

I don't know if Alexander the Great paid attention to ducks, but three cool diving ducks share their name with his horse.

Laura went out with her husband Russ to search for owls Sunday. Their sightings were limited to a couple of owl decoys, but they still saw some cool birds, and Laura remembers a lifetime of owls she has seen with Russ.

Hummingbirds have a fascinating fossil record.

An overview of the hummingbird family

Laura reminisces about the second tropical bird she ever saw.

Laura talks about the orangest members of the exotic cotinga family.

We Minnesotans are banding together in an inclusive, cohesive, peaceful rebel alliance, just like chickadees.