Laura Erickson's For the Birds

What kind of resolutions for a new year, or a new decade, does a birder make? (4:10)

Duluth broke its all-time record for species seen on the Christmas Bird Count, with a lot of great birds. (4:07)

Inspired by finally seeing one, Laura dug up lots of information about Golden-crowned Sparrows. (3:43)

An extremely rare bird turned up at a feeder just a mile from Laura’s house. (4:05)

This is Laura’s first telling of the children’s story about a raven helping Santa deliver his packages.

Laura has a novel theory for why Poe’s raven says “Nevermore,” and reads a hopeful poem from listener Robert Stulo.

What’s it like to have two crows in your living room?

When Laura said she had 157 bird books, she was wrong.

Is it possible to hunt a species to extinction?

Many Northland Christmas Bird Counts will take place during the next 18 days. (4:02)

What’s the difference between collecting coins and collecting bird names on a list? (3:46) Date verified.

Laura talks about her favorite bird books that aren’t field guides.

Laura talks about choosing a field guide.

Yesterday Laura’s favorite little girl turned six years old. (4:12)

Laura announces a new contest for listeners to report their birds. (3:49)

Today Laura Erickson answers a listener’s questions about magpies.

Macaws belong in the wild. (4:18) Date verified.

Several listeners have written or called Laura Erickson with interesting notes about the expression “Naked as a Jaybird.” (3:52)

A Great Horned Owl flew in on a cold front, bringing inspiration to Laura Erickson. (4:15)

This is a remake of a program from 1987.

Recast from 11-30-1987 (3:47) Date verified.

Woody Woodpecker and other woodpeckers. (3:52)

Laura talks about a beautiful and friendly winter bird. (Recast from original from December 14, 1989.)

Redone from 12/23/87 (3:53) Date verified.

This may or may not be a recast of 12-2-1987

Remade from 12/1/86 (3:25)

Today Laura Erickson spells out the rules of this year’s backyard bird contest. (3:53)

Are humans really more evolutionarily advanced than birds?

Tuesday’s snow was predicted by Monday’s flight of Bald Eagles. (3:33) date confirmed

Today Laura Erickson talks about Calpurnia the Crow. 3:59 (Date confirmed)

Today Laura Erickson talks about a hurt chickadee that came to visit.

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the expression “naked as a jaybird”? (3:55)

Why do we call a disreputable doctor a “quack”? Laura Erickson has the answer. (3:47) Date verified.

Recast from 1986. (4:02) Date confirmed.

The sheer number of products with loons on them sold as gifts is surprising, but it’s a regional phenomenon.

Redone from 11-6-1987 Date verified.

Redone (I think) from 11-13-87. This is the definite date, but not sure if it was re-recorded.

Laura reads Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “The Raven.”

Recast from 10-28-87

Recast from November 21, 1986. (3:05), Date confirmed

Wild Turkeys are appearing in increasing numbers in Wisconsin and Minnesota, including the northland.

This is the second program Laura produced about this movie. (4:00)

Redone from 1986, Laura relates some little known facts about birds.

Recast from 10-10-1986 (3:28)

(3:54) Date confirmed.

Laura talks about a cool rarity.

Today Laura Erickson talks about a bird that comes all the way from southwestern Africa, the lovebird.

Today Laura Erickson talks about how she went about choosing a new pair of binoculars–and why you shouldn’t do it her way.

What’s the solution to the cat problem? Laura Erickson is looking for a few good ideas.

When Laura Erickson suddenly found mites or lice crawling on her crow, her starling, and herself, she had to to something about it. (Date confirmed)

Woody Woodstock the baby Blue Jay who was poisoned by chemical lawn sprays, is dead at three months of age. (4:10) Date confirmed.

Laura has another injured crow. (3:48) Date confirmed

The birds in the Erickson household seem to be enjoying music in many forms.

Laura talks about birds ganging up on bigger birds, and birds stealing from one another. (3:52) Date confirmed.

Our tiniest falcon is an avian treasure.

3:48 Date confirmed

Laura’s children are growing up in a strange household. (3:58)

Update on the little Blue Jay Laura is taking care of. 4:00 Date confirmed

3:10 (recast from 9-14-87) (Date verified)

What birds is Laura taking care of? 4:04

Recast from Sept. 9, 1987

Recast from 9-7-87 (3:40) Date confirmed

Recast from August 17, 1987 (3:30) (Date confirmed)

Aristotle’s swallow that makes a summer is the same species as our Barn Swallow

Laura named two nighthawks she’s cared for this year Scarlett and Ashley, and they seem to have lived up to their names. (date confirmed) (4:11)

Remake from 9-12-88 (3:52) Date confirmed.

Laura talks about two insect and fruit-eating birds she enjoys seeing at the Lakewood Pumping Station, each with a bright terminal tail band and a tiny but vivid red spot on its plumage. 3:55 (Date verified)

Recast from September 14, 1988.

This year’s annual Mourning Dove population report suggests the species needs continued protection from hunting. (3:12)

The Arnold Schwartzeneggers of the bird world are migrating right now. (3:43)

Revised script at the end, date unknown

Cormorants, voracious fish eaters, are not a very good choice as a pet. Reworked from 1988

Nighthawks are migrating, and the baby Laura had been raising is with them. (4:14)

(redone from August 5, 1987)

Laura taught a class at the edge of the Boundary Waters, birds in tow. (4:01)

What have people been counting at the Lakewood Pumping Station? (4:08) Date confirmed

(Recast from August 3, 1987) 3:31

After 8 years on Peabody Street, Laura finally has a chipmunk visiting her feeders! (3:57)

Laura’s been caring for a cat-injured baby Pine Siskin. (3:56) Date verified.

Why don’t we see as many birds as we used to? (4:01) Date verified.

Laura lists several ways we can help birds.

August may be part of our summer vacation, but fall is here for many birds.

What birds are most likely to be killed at our windows, and how can we protect them? (3:33)

What’s the difference between nighthawks and jays? As an Irish girl from Chicago who married a Swede, Laura has an interesting theory. (3:32)

What’s going on in Laura’s neighborhood this summer? (3:44) Date verified.

How much are birds paying for our use of pesticides?

Laura discovered that the baby Blue Jay she’s taking care of wasn’t injured by a cat, but damaged by lawn pesticides. How’s he doing?

Some birds are lookalikes that can most easily be identified by voice, and some birds are virtually never seen, so their voice is essential for identifying them.

Some conspicuous birds are not considered great singers.

Some sounds in the soundtrack of our lives are made by birds that we seldom see.

Recast again from 7/11/86 and 10/31/86, (3:35) Date confirmed.

What are the weirdest bird calls? (3:31) Date confirmed.

Laura has declared this Bird Song Awareness Week. 3:58 (Date confirmed)

The rapid and tragic end of a once-common species.

Why are Zebra Finches among the very few birds that make suitable pets?

Why do geese have a period when they can’t fly at all each summer?

Cat injuries are far more insidious than most people realize. 4:07

Cities are richer in birdlife than many people realize.

Laura conducted a Breeding Bird Survey for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month. Why is this such a perfect project? (4:09) Date confirmed.

recast from August 11, 1986.

How’s Laura’s baby starling doing?

Laura explains why it’s better for birds to raise their own young than for people to try. 3:42

Laura rode her bicycle from Duluth to Port Wing. What birds did she see? (3:53) Date verified.

A poison for killing House Sparrows and starlings causes too much collateral damage.

Turkeys have become a popular game bird in Wisconsin and Minnesota, after a successful introduction program. Why does Laura consider it an error to call it a “re-introduction”?

Modified from July 30, 1986.

How successful has the Peregrine reintroduction been?

Re-recorded from July 21, 1986

The number one killer of birds in the United States now is probably none other than the domestic cat. (4:06) date confirmed

Today Laura Erickson talks about how to report a rare bird sighting. (4:02)

If you’ve never heard of a Whimbrel, find out what you’ve been missing on today’s “For the Birds.”

Today Laura Erickson talks about the Flying Cigar–also known as the Chimney Swift. (3:54)

Is it true that to eat a tent caterpillar you have to be cuckoo? (4:03)

Laura is taking care of an injured nighthawk, and it’s fascinating. 3:26 (Date confirmed)

Recast from 6/12/87. (3:15) Date verified.

Recast from 6-3-87. (3:45)

Laura talks about the bird that used to be Minnesota’s state bird.

Laura talks about the Shakespearean origin of starlings in America and about one particular little baby starling. (3:59) Date verified.

Our gentle Mourning Dove, a relative of two extinct species, deserves protection here. (3:27) (Modified script too, not sure what date)

Recast from 6-8-87

Rerecorded from 6/15/87 (3:15)

Laura talks about unusual baby birds.

Laura talks about the biology of baby birds.

Laura talks about the first Blue Jay she got to know personally. 3:59

The birds we disparage as flying rats have saved countless human lives in wartime. (verified date)

One of the most joyful sounds of Minnesota and Wisconsin is no longer as commonly heard as it used to be, but poetry and poetic words about it endure. (4:06) Date confirmed

Laura talks about one of her favorite birds of all.

We may think we own property, but we’re often trespassing on the territory of others.

Today Laura Erickson talks about her favorite warbler of all–all 37 species.

Today Laura Erickson talks about her favorite warbler, the Blackburnian.

Today Laura Erickson talks about her favorite warbler, the Magnolia.

Today Laura Erickson talks about her favorite warbler, the Black-and-White.

Today Laura Erickson talks about her favorite warbler, the Nashville.

Recast from 1986 and 1988. (3:39) Date confirmed.

House Wrens are back! (3:48) (Reworked from 1986 and 1987.)

Reworked from 6/24/1987

recast from 5/6/87 (3:42) Date confirmed

Hear some of the haunting melodies of dawn on today’s “For the Birds.”

Want a few hints about how to understand chickadee language? Tune into today’s “For the Birds.”

Today Laura Erickson tells how you can attract orioles to your backyard.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the sweet-loving Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the little falcon of the woods, the Merlin.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the weed of the tree world, the aspen.

Thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s new Project Feeder Watch, Laura Erickson has the answer to the question everyone has been asking her: “Where were the finches all winter?”

The rich history of avian spearfishing is explored in today’s “For the Birds.”

Today Laura Erickson talks about the most secretive sparrow of all.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the most studied laboratory sparrow of all. (3:52) Date verified.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the bird that sings Old Sam Peabody. (4:02) (recast later but I don’t know the date–that one’s modified script is filed as this date.)

Today Laura Erickson talks about the sweetest sparrow of all.

Today Laura talks about a big, hardy sparrow. Date verified. 3:59. Script modified for the 90s, but I don’t know the date.

Recast from April 10, 1987

Changed from 4/8/87 (3:18) Date confirmed.

Re-recorded from original (4/17/87)

Redone from April 4, 1988. 3:56

Laura talks about one of her most eagerly anticipated sounds of spring. (Reworked from May 2, 1988) (3:41)

Recast from 6-9-86. (3:30), date confirmed.

Laura tells you how you can enjoy migration from the comfort of your own home.

Why do birds fly north in spring? HINT: it’s probably not just because it’s too far to walk.

Laura talks about the huge oil spill in Prince Edward Sound. (3:08) Date confirmed.

A young listener asked Laura to talk about hummingbirds. (4:06)

Today Laura Erickson talks about the Whiskey Jack, also known as the Gray Jay.

Is it spring or isn’t it? (4:00) Date confirmed

Laura talks about a magical encounter with a tiny songbird.

(Reworked from April 22, 1987)

A real harbinger of spring is here. (3:30) Date verified.

Redone from April 20, 1987 (3:55)

Today Laura Erickson talks about some of the birds showing up at Northland feeders.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the tiniest Northland owl of all, the Saw-whet. (3:54)

An out-of-place White-crowned Sparrow showed up in Laura’s yard. (3:51)

The rituals of eagle courtship bring to mind The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Laura talks about the true harbingers of spring.

What birds are back in the Northland? Laura Erickson gives a report on today’s “For the Birds.”

Today Laura Erickson talks about the most common owl of the Northland, the Great Horned Owl. (3:59)

Today Laura Erickson gives some hints on how to attract more birds to your yard. (4:05)

The fall movements of Ruffed Grouse, the migration route of Blackpoll warblers, and infanticide in tropical shorebirds are some of the topics covered in the current issue of the journal of the American Ornithologists’ Union. Laura Erickson gives details on today’s “For the Birds.” (3:59)

By special request, Laura Erickson recommends some of the best books about birds.

Today Laura Erickson helps identify some of the common songs heard this time of year in the Northland.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the littlest woodpecker of all, the Downy. (3:46)

Today Laura Erickson talks about the star of the children’s book, “Make Way for Ducklings,” the Mallard

Today Laura Erickson talks about the noisiest owl of all, the Barred Owl.

Today Laura Erickson talks about some of the common and uncommon birds that turned up in the Northland this winter. (3:20)

Today Laura Erickson announces the winners of this year’s winter backyard bird contest. (4:04)

On St. Patrick’s Day, what else could Laura talk about?

The European Starling was introduced to North America 99 years ago today. To mark the occasion, Laura Erickson talks about how it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.

There are some definite signs of spring out there!

Today Laura Erickson reads some listener comments and questions.

Today Laura Erickson talks about the street urchins of the bird world, House Sparrows.

Redone from 2-6-87 (3:44) Date confirmed.

Reworked from 1-14-87 (3:58) Date verified. Apparently re-worked once in the 1990s, too. This is the script from that.

Reworked from 1-14-87 (3:58) Date verified. Apparently re-worked once in the 1990s, too. This is the script from that.

(Re-written and re-recorded from 1-7-87)

Today Laura Erickson tells how to identify large owls by their hoots. (3:52)

Today Laura Erickson talks about one of the Northland’s finest attractions, the Bald Eagle.

Why are so many Boreal Owls turning up dead, and why are they drawn to houses? (4:00)

Flamingo tackyvulgaris makes occasional appearances in the northland.

How do birds know when to migrate? (4:05)

Today is the last day to enter your backyard bird sightings. (3:21)

A strange bird from Europe turned up in East Grand Forks this winter. (4:04) Date verified

The life of a scavenger has a lot to recommend it. (3:59) Date confirmed.

Winter poses more tricky difficulties that just cold.

Do birds yawn?

What do we know about sleeping birds? They’re not talking.

Just nine days to go, tallying backyard birds for this year’s contest. (3:11)

A boy named Jesse asked Laura to do a program about eggs.

1989 will be the last year captive-reared Peregrine Falcons will be released in Minnesota—a remarkably successful program.

Molly and Ken Hoffman in Grand Marais are the people to beat in this year’s backyard bird list contest. (3:44)

How do birds celebrate the holiday of love?

Abraham Lincoln probably never saw a Lincoln’s Sparrow, which was named for another Lincoln from the same era. (3:35)

No matter what a Minnesota winter brings, chickadees soften the blow.

The butcherbird takes more little birds than some people can stomach watching, but some birds manage to protect themselves.

Pine Siskins are suddenly back. (3:54)

How can anything naked as a jaybird survive the winter?

Do any birds hibernate?

Laura apparently has a lot to learn about the birds of California.

If we banned lead for waterfowl hunting, why are so many swans still dying of lead poisoning?

One of the most yearned-for species of our winter bird count is the subject of a poem by a 9-year-old listener. (3:14)

What’s involved in having a permit to rehab birds?

Laura’s in-laws in Port Wing are seeing a lot of birds this winter, and are the people to beat in Laura’s contest. (3:45)

Re-produced from 1986-12-08

Snowy Owls in winter can have some strange encounters with chimneys.

Herring Gulls are as much a part of our winter world as lutefisk, and just about as welcome.

How many birds actually know and get along with their mothers-in-law? (3:55)

Laura has hints for attracting birds at feeders.

What to look for if you watch the Inauguration.

Adapted from 12/5/86 and 11/25/87

How are robins like Tyrannosaurus rex?

Laura wants to hear about your encounters with Great Gray Owls.

Redone from 10-08-1986, (3:42) Date confirmed

Recast from 9/3/86. (3:53) Date confirmed.

(Recast from July 9, 1986) (Date confirmed) (3:54)

Recast from 10-13-86. (3:41) Date verified.

What bird sounds are heard in popular movies?

Redone–don’t know what the date was.

This year’s feeder bird contest is going strong. (3:33)