"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/.
The Laura Erickson's For the Birds podcast is an absolute gem for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Hosted by the knowledgeable and compassionate Laura Erickson, this podcast provides a perfect balance of education, personal anecdotes, and thought-provoking discussions in less than 10 minutes per episode. With each episode, listeners are treated to a wealth of information about birds, their behavior, and the environment they inhabit.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is Laura Erickson's ability to seamlessly incorporate her personal observations with macro knowledge and issues related to birds. Her anecdotes are not only heartwarming but also shed light on the intricacies of bird life. Additionally, Laura's ability to provide valuable insights into our impact on birds and advocate for a compassionate life beyond just bird-watching sets this podcast apart. The episodes strike the perfect balance between being educational, reflective, and entertaining.
With regards to drawbacks, there are very few to be found in The Laura Erickson's For the Birds podcast. Some listeners may find that the relatively short duration of each episode leaves them wanting more. However, it is worth noting that this brevity is what makes this podcast so accessible and easy to consume without overwhelming listeners with information.
In conclusion, The Laura Erickson's For the Birds podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in birds or nature conservation. Laura Erickson's expertise shines through in every episode as she imparts her vast knowledge while sharing personal stories that resonate with listeners. This podcast showcases both thoughtful reflection and lightheartedness in its approach to exploring bird behavior and addressing important environmental issues. Whether you're a seasoned birder or new to the world of birds, this podcast will undoubtedly leave you feeling inspired and more connected with the natural world around you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Laura is honoring today's “Get ICE Out of Minnesota” “Day of Truth and Freedom.”
Last month, Laura got to feast her eyes on her "Most Wanted Bird" in the world--an Andean Condor.
What does it mean when your first bird of the year is a pigeon?
One of Laura's listeners and readers, Linda Peplinski, gave Laura a lovely reminder of Thomas Hardy's poem *The Darkling Thrush.*
Five percent of Laura's joy in a trip comes during the planning stages; 45 percent comes during the actual trip; and a full 50 percent comes in the days, weeks, and years after the trip is over.
Laura's daughter, turning 42 years old on December 10, is facing a hard ordeal.
On December 8, Laura plans to go to sleep on the far side of the Equator.
Tech companies and data centers will squander electricity and water until we impose strict regulations and give them cost incentives.
Why would anyone use AI to create fake birds when reality is so splendid?
Little by little, we've become inured to more and more technological intrusions, some of which bear enormous environmental costs.
It's comprehensive and includes birds of Hawaii now, but is too big to carry in the field, and the font is much too small to be readable for me.
What's a cattle egret doing just outside Duluth around Halloween?
Laura talks about how she protects herself from sunburn, bug bites, and falls while traveling, and also how she manages her heavy equipment in her dotage.
Laura is trying to keep her body fit and healthy so she can keep birding.
Now that Laura's in her seventies, she's developed a few strategies for keeping her mind and body fit for birding tours.
A Black Phoebe, a species of the American Southwest not known for wandering, showed up at Gooseberry Falls this weekend.
On Saturday, Laura saw a brand new, long-coveted state bird for Minnesota--a Chestnut-collared Longspur
Laura tells us about her experiences with a group of little birds that were once considered sparrows.
When Laura was in Guyana, she fell in love with this stunningly beautiful bird, a species that is globally endangered thanks to the pet trade. (Laura is presenting a Zoom program for subscribers to [her blog](https://lauraerickson.substack.com/) on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 7 pm CDT. The invitation is embedded in her blog post, ["You're Invited"](https://lauraerickson.substack.com/p/youre-invited).)
Laura's Guyana trip this year was led by one of the best bird guides Laura has ever spent time with. What makes a good bird guide truly great? Laura will be doing a live Zoom presentation about her Guyana trip for subscribers (free or paid) of her Substack blog next Tuesday night (October 21 at 7 pm CDT). The program will be recorded and made available on her website.
Laura's Guyana trip this year was led by one of the best bird guides Laura has ever spent time with. What makes a good bird guide truly great? Laura will be doing a live Zoom presentation about her Guyana trip for subscribers (free or paid) of her Substack blog next Tuesday night (October 21 at 7 pm CDT). The program will be recorded and made available on her website.
How can we find owls on our own?
The more bird banders learn about owls, the more questions they have.
After saw-whet owls molt out of their baby feathers in summer, it's impossible to look at any Northern Saw-whet Owl and know what sex it is or how old it is unless it's in the hand and we're armed with measuring tools and a black light.
Laura got to spend Saturday night watching saw-whet owls get banded at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.
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