Laura Erickson's For the Birds

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Within days of the start taking office in his first administration, Donald Trump rescinded an Obama administration rule outlawing lead ammo and tackle on all national wildlife refuges.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 iss...

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 kn...

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.)